The two main rivers of Sylhet are Surma and Kushiara. Barak River in India is its estuary. Entering Bangladesh from Barak, it is divided into Surma and Kushiara. Agriculture, fishing, transportation and many things in the region depend on these two rivers, the lifeblood of the Haor basin. But when the rainy season comes, the swollen Barak water brings misery to the people living on the banks of the two rivers. Apart from Barak, India’s Omghat River enters Sylhet through Goain and Piyan rivers. During the monsoon, these two rivers also flood the surrounding areas and add to the suffering.
When the situation in Surmatir returned to normal, the Kushiara river swelled. On Thursday afternoon, at Amalshid Point of Jokiganj, the source of Kushiara, the water was flowing above 146 cm, 102 at Fenchuganj Point, 47 at Sheola Point and 18 cm at Sherpur Point. Surma was flowing 70 cm at Kanaighat point and 8 cm at Sylhet point. In the last few days, the water in Surma and other rivers has decreased by a few centimeters, but it is rising in Kushiara. Almost all the villages along the Kushiara shore of the district have already been submerged. People are now struggling to shelter and save themselves.
Talked with the residents of Guchchagram, Pitai, Fenchuganj upazila, on the banks of Surma. They said that there is no end to their danger if the water of the river crosses the limit. At present all the houses in the village are submerged in flood. Even on the road, sometimes the waist, somewhere knee-deep. In this situation, many have gone to government shelters. Again, many families are living in a loft. Boats are the only means of transportation.
Similar scenes can be seen in Bagmara, Surikandi, Noagaon, North Islampur, Belkona and other villages near Pitai Taktar. In Bagmara village, it was seen that there are no people in many houses. Kuhinur Mia, a resident of the area, said that he used to go from door to door to sell dried fruit. Now unemployed for last few days as all places are sunk. Only 2 kg of rice received aid.
Half of the Fenchuganj market on the Kushiara shore is now submerged in water. Especially the condition of Madhyabazar area is very fragile. The Upazila Health Complex road is under water. Patients and their relatives are crossing the road by van for 10 rupees. Even water in many educational institutions including public health department of upazila, agriculture department and service providers. According to the information of the district administration, about 7 lakh people in different upazilas are trapped in water until yesterday due to the third round of floods. About 9 thousand people are in the shelter.
It is known that there is an acute shortage of relief, clean water and fodder in the affected areas. Many rural communications are also cut off.
Misfortune is increasing in Kushiara-Tirbarti Balaganj, Osmaninagar upazila. Despite the district administration talking about adequate relief, the affected people complained of not getting relief. According to official data, 95 thousand people out of 18 thousand 880 families of Companyganj upazila are watertight. But till yesterday, only 50 packets of dry food are stored in this upazila administration. However, UNO Sunjit Kumar Chand said that if more relief allocations come, they will be distributed simultaneously.
Sylhet District Commissioner Sheikh Russell Hasan said that 750,000 people in 1081 villages of the district are under