Heavy rains, onrush of upstream inundate Sylhet

  Bangla Press Desk: Many low-lying areas of Gowainghat, Companiganj and Kanaighat in Sylhet have been severely flooded due to the heavy rains and the onrush of hilly waters from upstream. Roads and highways in the area have gone underwater, disrupting road communication with other parts of the country, according to reports of our local correspondent. It has been raining since Saturday morning, affecting the normal lives of the local people adversely in the area. Meanwhile, heavy rains have been reported in several areas, including Cherrapunji in India, with mountain streams from the region inundating many low-lying areas across the greater Sylhet division. Continuous rainfall and flash floods from upstream have affected several areas, including Alirgaon, West Alirgaon, West Jaflong, Nandirgaon, and the Dowbari area of Gowainghat upazila.

Abdul Matin, a resident of Gowainghat, said that due to the hilly onrush from upstream, water is now flowing with strong currents through Piyain and Gowain rivers in Jaflong and Sari, Dhalai and Lovachhara rivers in Kanaighat. While talking to the correspondent, Gowainghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ratan Kumar Adhikari, said a road from Radhanagar to Gowainghat went under knee-deep water on Saturday.

Sensing danger, at least 58 flood shelter centres have been kept prepared with an adequate stock of dry food, said the government official.

Kanaighat Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tania Akhter said the local administration has kept 36 flood shelters prepared with 300 packages of dry food. Local NGOs and the Red Crescent Society have deployed unit-based 30 to 40 trained youths to conduct the rescue operation if necessary. The water flow of almost all rivers in the area, including Surma, Kushiyara, Dhalai, Piyain and Sari, is on the increasing trend till this noon, according to the authority of the local Water Development Board.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall continued from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm, causing waterlogging on various roads across the Sylhet City Corporation area. Water has also entered many houses, shops and offices. Many roads of the city have become submerged and many vehicles were seen stalled on the streets after their engines went out of order. Source: DS [Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.] BP/ZE