The water of the Surma river is flowing much above the danger level due to the hill slopes in the district.
Due to continued rains in Meghalaya-Cherrapunji, India, the water from the hills flowed through the Bongaon Nakhria border river of Sadar upazila bordering Sunamganj, Dhopajan Chari river, Jadukata and Patlai rivers of Tahirpur upazila and Khasiamara, Chilai and Chela rivers of Doarabazar upazila and the main river of the district is Surma Bharama in Kanay-Kanaypur. A short-term flood has occurred in the Bhati township.
On the other hand, the flood water of Sylhet district hit Chatak upazila and crossed the two most visible rivers of the district and Jawar river and continues to flood Sunamganj city.
Water has risen in more than two and a half hundred houses in Sunamganj municipality’s extended municipal area including East Sultanpur, Mohammadpur, Nabinagar, North Arpinnagar, Tegharia, Nahunpara. Since morning, the streets of around 20 residential areas including Kazirpoint, Tegharia, Purba Sultanpur and Nahunpara were submerged in water and caused waterlogging.
On Monday (June 17) at 12 noon, water was flowing 20 cm above the danger level at Sholghar point in Sunamganj and 62 cm in Chatak upazila. Several Eidgahs of Sadar Upazila, including Ibrahimpur and Hurarkanda village Eidgah Maidan of North Surma Par, were submerged in rain and torrential rains, and Muslims offered Eid-ul-Azha prayers inside the mosque twice as heavy rains continued.
The dam of Khasiamara river flowing beside Lakshipur union of Doarabazar upazila and the Chilai river of Boglabazar union broke the dam of the rain water flowing down the hilly river and flooded 20 villages and roads in the surrounding area and nearly half a lakh people suffered. Already the low-lying areas of Jagannathpur upazila have been inundated by rain and flood water. Sunamganj Biswambharpur and Tahirpur upazila’s only 100 meter connecting road has been cut off from the district headquarters for the last two days due to rising water. Sadar Upazila’s Ibrahimpur Dolura road has been flooded and nearly lakhs of people have suffered.
Across the border, Cherrapunji in Meghalaya has been raining for the past three days. In the last 24 hours, Sunamganj has received 365 mm of rain and 441 mm across the border. As the water level has increased in Kanighat and Sylhet, the water may rise a little more in Surma and Kushiara in Sunamganj, said officials of the Water Development Board.
However, Meteorological and Water Development Board officials said that there is no danger of major floods.
Doarabazar upazila executive officer Nehar Nigar Tanu said that due to continuous rains and landslides in several places of the upazila, dams were broken and some houses were damaged. We have 17 shelters ready to handle any situation.
Water Development Board Executive Engineer Mamun Hawladar said that although the water in Surma and Kushiara has risen, the water in other rivers, especially Kalni and Jadukata, is one and a half to two and a half feet below. Other rivers in the district are also flowing below the danger level.
Meteorologist Sajib Ahmad of Sylhet Meteorological Office said that moderate to heavy rain may occur in some areas of Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions for five days till June 22. He said, it will rain in Cherrapunji also. During this time, the river water will also increase in Sunamganj.
Sayeed Ahmed, a meteorologist working in the Meteorological Department of the capital, said that it has been raining regularly for several days in Cherrapunji, Meghalaya. Because of this, the water in the river is suddenly rising abnormally. However, there is no threat of dangerous flooding.
Source: dailynayadiganta