30 Fenchuganj villages under floodwater for three months

At least 30 villages in Fenchuganj upazila of Sylhet have remained under floodwater for the last three months, affecting around 60 thousand people as the Kushiara river swelled following onrush of water from the upstream in Indian state of Assam.

The Barak river in Assam has swollen following continuous rain, causing the Kushiara river in Sylhet to overflow while downpour in the district worsened the situation.

The Kushiara overflowed, flooding the low-lying areas while the Sylhet-Fenchuganj road at different points has been washed away due to heavy rain.

This correspondent found 500 shops out of 700 were under water in Fenchuganj upazila town and only a few shops remained open. With floodwater not receding for one month, business has been suffering, said the local traders.

Most effected villages are Pitaitikor, Gusshogram, Bagmara, Goyasi, Velcuna, Surikandi, Sailkandi, Sottish, Sunapur, Uttor Islampur, Moinpur and Boraout.

The business activities in important trading places like Fenchuganj Bazar area have been stalled as communication network has fallen apart.

Trader Fahim Ahmed said sale at his shop was around Tk 10 thousand to 15 thousand a day, but for the past few months that has come down to Tk 20 a day. He said he had to pile bricks up on the floor of his shop amid water. With water all around, there is fear of snakes too.

Minhaj Uddin said his house was under knee-deep water and several layers of bricks have been set upon which he placed a bed as a makeshift platform to live in. But with two children, it is worrying that they may fall into the water any time, he said, adding that cooking is also a problem.

Fenchuganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Anisur Rahman said with the level of water in the Kushiara rising alarmingly, the entire upazila is flooded. The flood water was 132 cm above danger level on September 5 while it is now 132 cm above danger level at Fenchuganj point.

He said the administration is doing its level best to help the flood victims. Suffering can't be avoided in such a natural calamity, he added.

Communication between the upazila headquarters and the district has been snapped, he added.

Fenchuganj Upazila Chairman Saifullah Al Husain said around 30 villages in the upazila are under floodwater for the last three months, affecting at least 60,000 people. Besides, supply of food items and other goods has been disrupted due to the flooding of roads in the upazila, he added.