Surma and Kushiara rivers in Sylhet are rising due to heavy rains and hill slopes coming down from upstream. Floods have already occurred in seven upazilas bordering Sylhet.
The flood affected upazilas are Jaintapur, Goainghat, Kanaighat, Companyganj, Biyanibazar, Jokiganj and Golapganj. About five lakh 33 thousand 202 people of these areas have become waterlogged.
Meanwhile, due to the rise in Surma river, water entered various areas of the city and caused waterlogging in Sylhet. From Thursday night, water started rising on the roads in Taltala, Mendibagh, Machimpur and other areas of the city.
Going to Upshahar, Sobhanighat, Taltala and Mendibagh-Machimpur roads on Friday morning, it was seen that almost knee-deep water had accumulated on the roads. On the other hand, water has also entered the fire service and civil defense office of Sylhet on the ground floor of the city. Later, the fire service personnel moved their essential items elsewhere.
According to the information of Water Development Board Sylhet office at 6 am on Friday, Kanighat Surma point in Sylhet is flowing 99 cm after the danger level. At Amalsid point of Kushiara river in Jokiganj upazila, 209 cm of water is flowing over the boundary line. The other two points Jaflong Dauki Point and Sari Gwain in Gwainghat are being affected below the water line
Meanwhile, 547 shelters have been opened in the district. Out of this, 4 thousand 802 people have taken shelter in 349 shelter centers in seven upazilas. Kanaighat, Jaintapur, Goainghat, Companyganj and Jokiganj among the flooded upazilas have been allocated rice, dry food and money by the district administration.
Sylhet District Disaster Management Committee meeting has already been held to deal with the flood situation. Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Russell Hasan visited the upazilas to monitor the situation and look for the affected people. Army has been ordered to be ready.
It is known that the district administration has allocated 200 sacks of 1000 sacks of dry food, 15 metric tonnes of 75 metric tonnes of rice, 50 thousand taka and two and a half lakh taka for the people of five upazilas. In addition to the flooded area, the surrounding upazilas have been warned. The district administration said that a union-based medical team has been formed to provide health services to the flood victims.
Sylhet Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Mobarak Hossain said shelter centers have been opened in flood affected upazilas. The district administration has made all preparations to deal with the flood situation. Control-room has been opened at upazila and district level. Flood-affected people are being brought to shelters. Relief will be delivered to everyone as soon as possible.