Bangladesh
Sylhet Flood Flood water overflows banks of Surma, enters Sylhet city
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, May 17: Although the rainfall in Sylhet has been reduced for the past two days, the flood water is increasing due to the hill slope coming down from the upper reaches. The water level in the lower part of Sylhet city started flowing from noon on Monday (May 16) as the water level of Surma River, which flows through the city, rises.
In the afternoon, water entered thousands of houses and business establishments in the city. Thousands of city dwellers have been affected by the floods in Sylhet's Circuit House, Taltala, Kalighat, Betbazar, Tertan, Shahjalal suburbs and other suburbs.
Besides, water level of the rivers in the six upazilas bordering Sylhet, including Gowainghat, Kanaighat, Kompaniganj, Jaintapur, Zakiganj and Sylhet Sadar, are constantly rising. The water of Surma, Kushiyara and Sari rivers is flowing over the danger zone at several points, said the Water Development Board.
On Monday afternoon, the banks of the Surma River overflowed and water started flowing into different parts of the city. The city's largest wholesale market Kalighat, Taltala, Kazirbazar, Betbazar, Shahjalal sub-city, Sobhanighat, Chhararapar, Sheikhghat, Ghasitula, Machimpur, Tertan, Habinandi, Sadipur and other areas were submerged. Water entered the houses and shops in these areas.
Nilanjan Das Tuku, a business and cultural organizer at Kalighat, a wholesale market in the city, said the river overflowed at noon and flooded shops. The store's warehouse has a lot of perishable products including onions, garlic, potatoes. The whole area was submerged in the afternoon. He said that due to rapid increase in water, many products are getting lost in water. Due to this, the storekeepers and wholesale traders of Kalighat have suffered huge losses.
Md. Saeed Ahmed Chowdhury, senior meteorologist of the Meteorological Department, Sylhet, said that the rainfall in Sylhet has decreased for the last two days. However, the water level is rising due to the slope of the hill coming down from the upper reaches. Due to this, the water level in the rivers of Sylhet has continued to rise.
Meanwhile, water continues to rise in six upazilas of Sylhet. The suffering of the people has increased due to the flooding of rural roads and ghats in different upazilas. Many educational institutions are closed due to flooding.
