Bangladesh News

Heavy downpour worsened the flood situation in Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrakona while river erosion has taken a serious turn for the worse in Nilphamari due to swilling of the Teesta. Around 1 lakh people are said to be marooned in Netrakona.

The situation is likely to worsen in the next couple of days.

According to Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), flood situation in Sylhet and Sunamganj will deteriorate further as the region is experiencing heavy rainfall and more is likely.

Low-lying areas in Bogra, Jamalpur, Sirajganj, Tangail, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Faridpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Dohar and Nawabganj of Dhaka district, Shibganj and Sadar upazilas of Chapainawabganj district have been inundated due to continuous rising of water levels of different rivers.

More low-lying areas in the districts are expected to be inundated in the next 48-72 hours, FFWC bulletin said.

Low lying areas of Chittagong were also inundated due to non-stop heavy rain yesterday.

The bulletin said water levels at 61 points the FFWC monitors have marked a rise while eight points marked a fall.

The bulletin also said the overall flood situation of the country is very likely to deteriorate in the next 2-3 days. The Brahmaputra-Jamuna will continue to rise in the next 2-3 days, the bulletin added.

Our correspondent in Sylhet reports: Excessive rain during the last three days and the surge of water from upstream inundated croplands in different areas of the district and the region.

Road links between parts of Moulvibazar and neighbouring Golapganj and Beanibazar upazilas in Sylhet snapped after Roads and Highways Department suspended two ferry services on the Kushiyara Thursday evening.

Over 10,000 hectares of transplanted Aman and Aus paddy in Companyganj, Golapganj, Zaintapur, Kanaighat, Gowainghat and Beanibazar upazilas have been submerged.

All the rivers in the region are now flowing above the danger level at all points, sources said.

The Surma was flowing 25cm above the danger level at Sunamganj, 130cm above at Kanaighat. It was on the danger mark at Sylhet city.

The Kushiyara was flowing 57cm above the danger level at Amolshid point and 80cm above at Sheola point yesterday afternoon, official sources said.

Over 15,000 labourers went jobless in Zaintapur as stone and sand extraction is suspended. Croplands of 15 villages also went under flood water.

Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board, Sylhet, Shafiqul Islam told The Daily Star yesterday that river erosion is taking a serious turn at the villages on the Kushiyara in Zakiganj and in Beanibazar upazilas.

Our Netrakona correspondent reports: The flood situation in Netrakona deteriorated further yesterday with more areas going under water.

About one lakh people in six upazilas of the district are believed to have been marooned. The affected upazilas are Kalmakanda, Atpara, Madan, Mohanganj, Netrakona Sadar and Khaliajuri, Netrakona Water Development Board (WDB) sources said.

A vast area of Barhatta upazila is likely to go under water in the next 24 hours, sources said.

The Mongalashowary is flowing 125cm, the Kongsha 56cm and the Dhanu 65cm above their danger levels.

Onrush of water from upstream coupled with heavy rainfall in the last four days aggravated the situation, the sources added.

Sources said Koilati union in Kalmakanda upazila, Duaz, Sukari, Sunai union in Atpara upazila and a vast area of Madan, Mohanganj and Khaliajuri upazilas have gone under 3-5 feet of flood water.

They said most of the houses in the Kalmakanda upazila Sadar have been inundated.

Thousands of hectares of newly planted Aman and vegetables have been damaged.

Road communications between Netrakona and Kalmakanda upazila Sadar, Khaliajuri upazila Sadar and Madan upazila Sadar have been disrupted since yesterday.

Our Nilphamari correspondent reports: About 50 houses and 50 bighas of paddy at Bhashanirchar were swept away by floodwater yesterday. Twenty-five houses in Baishpukur char also went into the gorge of the Teesta.

Erosion also affected Jharsinheswar, Chhatunama and Bhendabari chars.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Dimla upazila said dry food has been distributed among the victims of erosion at Bhashanirchar.

Our Chittagong correspondent reports: Incessant rain disrupted city life yesterday.

Many areas in the city including low-lying areas became inundated over the last few days.

Forecasting Officer at the Patenga Met Office said 149.10mm of rainfall was recorded in 24 hours ending 3:00pm yesterday.

According to a weather forecast, light to moderate showers or thunderstorms accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to continue at most places in Chittagong division and neighbouring areas. Moderately heavy to heavy rainfall is expected at a number of places tomorrow.