Flash flood hits Sylhet

Heavy rain coupled with onrush water from the hills triggered flash floods in Guainghat, Jaintapur upazilas under Sylhet district, rendering two thousand families marooned in 30 villages during the last couple of days.

A big portion of Jaintapur, Nijpath, Fotepur, Dorbost, Chiknapur under Jaintapur upazila and Pashchim Jaflong, Purbo Jaflong, Rustompur, Dhobari, Lengura, Toakul Nandirgaon unions in Guainghat upazila went under water.

Some areas of Sylhet Sadar and Kanaighat upazilas have been affected too.

"Floodwater has affected around 1200 families in 16 villages of my upazila. Water Development Board (WDB) officials visited the areas but there is hardly any sign of starting work to address the problem," said Joynal Abedin, chairman of Jaintapur upazila parishad.

Road communications between the Guainghat upazila headquarters and Pashchim Jaflong, Purbo Jaflong, Rustompur, Dhobari, and Lengura unions have been snapped, said Abdul Hakim Chowdhury, chairman of the upazila parishad.

Unagaon Government Primary School is now under around two-foot water.

  Embankments at Nayeakhel, Bhittikhel,Thubang, Baladara and Shurkhel have already broken, causing water from the swelling river flow to nearby villages.

Thousands of families living along riverside areas are passing time amid fear of losing their croplands and houses, he added.

Floodwater submerged around 30 villages in the region as the Surma, Shewla and Kushiyara rivers are flowing above the danger level, Abdul Motin, deputy divisional engineer of WDB in Sylhet, said, adding that 150 mm of rainfall was recorded in the area in 24 hours.

Admitting the worsening flood situation, Md Joynal Abedin, deputy commissioner of Sylhet, said they informed the higher authorities of the matter.