Rain, upstream water inundate three Sylhet upazilas

Incessant rainfall coupled with onrush of flood water from the upstream in the Indian state of Assam has caused flooding in many areas of Zakiganj, Beanibazar and Kanaighat upazilas of the district.

The low-lying areas of Sylhet city and neighbouring areas have also been inundated due to nonstop downpour for three straight days. However, with stoppage of rainfall, the situation has marked a slight improvement since Sunday.

A 700 to 800 meter dyke on the Kushiyara riverbank developed breaches at various points in Rarai, Bakhorshal, Kholachhara and Loharmohal area due to onrush of water from the upstream in Assam on Monday morning.

Gushing water entered these areas, where locals were taking preparations to save their homesteads.

Besides, water entered through the Kushiyara embankment at Kesri in Zakiganj Pourashava as well as at Sobria and Senapotirchak of Sadar union, Isapur of Sultanpur, Pillakandi of Sharifganj union and at villages of Kholachhara union.

Locals attempted to protect their homesteads by placing sandbags at the vulnerable points.

The Surma River in Kanaighat was flowing 187 centimetres above the danger level while the Kushiyara River was flowing above 185 centimetres at Amolshid border point, official sources said.

Dipok Ranjan Das, executive engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Sylhet, told this correspondent that the situation turned severe with the gushing water entering from India while border river Kushiyara swelled amid heavy rains.

Steps were taken to control the situation by dumping sandbags at several points, he added.

The official also said the Kushiyara embankment developed beaches at Rarai, Bakhorshal and Loharmohal points.

Schools, madrasa, mosques etc have also been inundated while locals have left their homesteads in search of safer places.

"However, we hope to see improvement in the situation as rain has stopped this afternoon," he said.

The Zakiganj upazila administration claimed that 57 flood shelters have been kept ready.

The Indian river Barak enters Bangladesh through Amolshid border in Zakiganj in the name of Surma and Kushiyara. But due siltation in the Surma, its over 80 per cent runs down through the Kushiyara.

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