Dhaka, June 15 – Persistent rain for the past few days has caused severe flooding across several villages of Sylhet. The floods in the Sylhet region are likely to be more devastating this week as the Manu River in Tripura and those in the Barak valley have crossed highest flood levels and would flow downstream. Four Upazilas in the district were inundated due to incessant rainfall and onrush of hilly water from across the border for last three days, leaving several hundred thousand people marooned.
Severe flooding has been reported in Kanaighat, Jakiganj, Goainghat, and Jaintapur Upazilas of the district that caused untold sufferings to the people.
The region braces for more devastating floods this week. A report posted by the India-based South Asia Network on Dams Rivers and People states: “ In Tripura, the Manu River has already crossed the highest flood level at two locations: Manughat and Kailashahar. At Matsuri in Assam, the Katakhal (a tributary of Barak) is likely to be within 6 cm of Highest Flood Level.
“In Mizoram, videos show houses collapsing like cardboards due to landslides. Serchhip district has already received 677 mm of rainfall, more than any other district in North East and it is already 345% above average.”
Tripura, Mizoram and Barak valley in Assam are currently facing the second wave of floods of this season in North East India, the post adds.
The SANDRP post states: The second wave of floods (the first wave came in around May 20-24) this year in North East India is affecting Tripura, Mizoram and mainly Barak Valley in Assam. Worryingly, while India’s flood forecast site shows water level reaching unprecedented levels in Manu river at Kailashahar in North Tripura District, India’s flood forecasters seem to have no flood forecasting site in Mizoram. At Matsuri site in Hailakandi district in Barak Valley in Assam, the Katakhal river also approaching its highest ever flood level.
In Bangladesh too, sites like Amalshid have crossed the highest flood level.
In Sylhet, Bangladesh, regional roads, fish enclosures, houses, business establishments – all kinds of structures were submerged in rainwater. Flood control embankments broke at many points flooding at least 30 villages where hundreds of people remain trapped.
Local Water Development Board executive officer Sirajul Islam said water of Surma River was flowing 22 centimetres above the danger level at Sylhet, and 2.6 cm above the D-L in Kanaighat while water of Kushiara River was flowing 94 cm above the danger level at Shewla in Bianibazar and 14 cm above at Sherpur.
Meanwhile, the flood control embankment continues to be under severe threat of giving away along 20 points deemed to be critical were under severe threat as rivers were flowing above danger level, he added.
In Satkhira, five villages of Ashasuni Upazila were submerged along with paddy field, fish enclosures, houses, local schools, and mosques.
Witnesses said the flood control embankment broke at Government Primary School point flooding Bollobpur, Anulia, Bisot, Gharali and Nayakhali and adjacent villages.
Anulia Union chairman Alamgir Alam Liton said “The food water rapidly engulfing the villages after embankment broke at Kholpetua point. We asked Water Development Board to reformation the old and fragile embankment but they have to steps of doing it.”
After the high tide locals themselves will start the repair work on damaged embankments, he said.
