UNB, Sylhet:
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibbur Rahman is set to visit Companigonj upazila and other flood-hit areas on Wednesday, an official said, as the flood situation in Sylhet deteriorates with the Surma and Kushiyara rives in the region swelling above the danger level.
Continuous heavy rainfall over the past two days has worsened the flood situation in Sylhet for the second time in just 20 days. Nearly 400,000 people in the Sylhet metropolitan area and throughout the district are now marooned, UNB reports.
Worsening flood situation in Sylhet: Rivers swell above danger levelWorsening flood situation in Sylhet: Rivers swell above danger level
In the metropolitan area alone, 10,000 people across 15 wards have been affected by flooding, UNB reported quoting Sylhet district administration sources.
Sylhet experienced the first phase of flooding on May 27, affecting approximately 700,000 people across all upazilas. The water had not fully receded when heavy rainfall hit again on Saturday, worsening the situation by Eid-ul-Azha on Monday.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department recorded 100mm of rain in the 24 hours till 6am on Wednesday.
The Sylhet district administration reports that around 17,284 flood-affected people have taken shelter at various flood centres till 6am.
All tourist spots closed in 2 Sylhet upazilas due to floodingAll tourist spots closed in 2 Sylhet upazilas due to flooding
According to a bulletin from the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) on Wednesday morning, the Surma River was flowing above the danger mark at Kanaighat (91cm) and Sylhet (37cm) points, and the Kushiyara at Amalshid (46cm) and Fenchuganj (92cm) points.
Other rivers, including the Sari, Piane, Goain, and Dholai, are also above their danger marks.
Dedicated officers have been appointed in each upazila, and medical teams have been formed at union levels to provide health services to flood victims.
–Army troops deployed–
At the request of the Sylhet City Corporation, under the directives of the chief of army staff, General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, troops were deployed on Tuesday to protect the flood-affected Boroikandi power substation.
This power substation supplies electricity to Sylhet Railway Station, adjacent areas of Boroikandi in Sylhet city, Kamalbazar, Masukganj, Bscic, Lalabazar, Shibbari, and the central bus terminal in Kadamtali. Army personnel are working to ensure uninterrupted power supply to these areas.