Flood situation worsens in Sunamganj, Sylhet

The flood situation in Sunamganj and Sylhet have worsened a week after improving following a previous bout of flash floods, as the most important river flowing through the districts -- the Surma -- was overflowing since yesterday.

According to the Water Development Board (WDB) in Sunamganj and Sylhet, Surma was overflowing by 54 centimetres at Sunamganj town, 166 centimetres at Chhatak upazila in Sunamganj and 77 centimetres above danger levels in Kanaighat upazila in Sylhet.

Meanwhile, Jadukata river is overflowing 134 centimetres above danger level at Shaktiarkhola of Tahirpur upazila in Sunamganj while the Sari river is overflowing by 21 centimetres at Sarighat point of Jaintiapur upazila in Sylhet, our Sylhet correspondent reports quoting WDB officials.

In Sunamganj, road communication with other unions from Dowarabazar upazila sadar has been completely cut off since yesterday while many roads at Sadar, Bishwambarpur, Tahirpur,  Jamalganj and Chhatak upazilas are submerged in flood water, local administration sources said.

Mamun Ahmed, a shopkeeper of Ukil Para of Sunamganj municipality, said, "My shop was flooded several days earlier, and is again flooded now. We don't know when the flood situation will be over."

In the district, floods hit earlier on June 25, when 82 unions of all 11 upazilas including 4 municipalities were affected. Later, the water receded and before the situation completely improved, flash floods hit the district again.

Mohammad Abdul Ahad, deputy commissioner of Sunamganj, said, "As we had forecasts of the flash flood, we prepared for it and are already started opening shelter centres so that affected people can take shelter there."

"We have enough relief in stock and will start distributing them soon to affected people. We have opened control centres in all upazilas to monitor the situation," he said.

Meanwhile, Surma in Kanaighat upazila in Sylhet also was overflowing and flooded parts of the upazila. The flash floods from upstream of India flooded parts of Gowainghat and Jaintiapur upazilas in the district too, local administration confirmed.