Fresh areas flooded in five Sylhet upazilas

A rickshaw-puller carries passenger on the submerged Sylhet-Balaganj road while floodwater inundates a bazar in Beanibazar upazila of Sylhet district. Photo: STAR

Flood situation in Sylhet region worsened yesterday with new areas in Zakiganj, Beanibazar, Golapganj, Fenchuganj and Jaintapur upazilas of Sylhet going under water in the last 48 hours.
Suffering of the people mounted due to disruption in rural communications in most areas.
All the rivers in the region remained above danger mark at all points as onrush of hill water from upstream coupled with rain continued unabated.
The Surma was flowing 20cm above danger level in Sylhet city while 18cm above red mark at Sunamganj district headquarters and 139cm above danger level at Kanaighat upazila headquarters at 3pm yesterday.
The Kushiyara at its starting point on Indo-Bangla borders at Amolshid was 50cm above the danger level while it was 95cm above red mark at Sheola yesterday evening.
Road link of Zakiganj, Beanibazar, Gowainghat and Kanaighat with the district headquarters remained suspended as flood waters submerged the roads at several points.
Prices of essentials marked sharp rise in the flood hit upazilas due to disruption of road links and transportation problem, locals said.
Around five lakh people in the district are badly affected by the floods, said an official at the district flood control room, yesterday.
In Netrakona, flood water submerged fresh areas in Khaliajuri upazila, reports our correspondent.
Around 10 thousand people have been marooned in 20 new villages in the upazila. Hill water from upstream washed away at least 50 kutcha houses at Laxmipur, Majibnagar, Balli Purbapara and Jagannathpur villages.
Khaliajuri upazila administration sources said, flood water damaged vegetables on several hundred hectares and 50 percent seed-bed of amon crops in the affected areas.
Erosion by the river Dhanu took a serious turn devouring at least 10 houses and 20 hectares of cultivable land of Baranter village in the last few days.