54,000 families without power in Sylhet city
Residents in Sylhet city have been enduring power outage following waterlogging caused by excessive rainfall since yesterday (May 17, 2022).
In Sylhet city and suburbs, 54,000 consumers do not have electricity since yesterday, according to sources.
According to the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) in Sylhet, electricity supply cannot be restored as the flood situation is deteriorating.
The Surma river has been swelling in the city and there is also shortage of fresh water.
According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, the Surma river was flowing 42cm above danger level around 9:00 am today, which is 13cm more than yesterday.
Residents of different areas in Dakshin Surma are in the worst condition due to power outage. As the area is on the south bank of the river, they are worst affected by the flood and electricity connection to 42,000 consumers has been cut off in the area.
Shyamal Chandra Sarkar, executive engineer of the BPDB Sales and Distribution Division 3, said, "We are not sure when power supply will be restored as there is no improvement in the flood situation."
After Dakshin Surma, the worst situation is in Shahjalal Upashahar and adjoining areas under BPDB Sales and Distribution Division 2. At least 12,000 consumers of the area are out of power supply since yesterday evening.
Aminul Islam Palash, a resident of E block of Shahjalal Upashahar, said, "There's no electricity connection since yesterday evening. Today, we can manage, but alternative arrangements have to be made. There is no way we can go anywhere else for shelter in this situation."
Shams-e-Arefin, executive engineer of BPDB Sales and Distribution Division 2, said, "It will not be possible to provide electricity connection soon. Most electric metres and water pumps are submerged and we are yet to find an alternative solution."
Meanwhile, Md Fazlul Karim, executive engineer of BPDB Sales and Distribution Division 1, said there was power outage in several Sylhet city areas including Taltala almost all day yesterday.
"The power supply to Taltola was restored yesterday evening due to some improvement, but now we are watching the situation in Kanishail, Topkhana and Shamimabad," he said.
According to Sylhet City Corporation, more than 1,000 people have so far taken shelter in 10 of the 16 flood shelter centres opened in different areas in the city. A total of 1,250 packets of dry food have been provided to those in the shelters.
Nur Azizur Rahman, chief engineer of Sylhet city, said, "We are trying to provide safe water as many areas are submerged. Water purification tablets are also being distributed in some areas."