Low-lying haor areas of Sunamganj is getting flooded by rising water levels of the Surma, Jadukata and Chela rivers due to incessant rains and heavy downstream current.
According to related sources, Sunamganj received 150 mm of rain and its bordering Cherrapunji town in India’s northeastern Meghalaya state received 131 mm of rain on Thursday and Friday.
According to meteorological agencies, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur in the northeastern parts of the country and adjoining uplands in the next 72 hours. As a result, people living in haor and border areas of the district are anxious with the fear of floods.
As of Friday afternoon, water levels of Surma River have raised by 0.24 cm and are flowing below the danger level by 0.42 cm at Sunamganj point. Out of six stations in the district, water has slightly increased in four stations and water has decreased slightly in two stations.
According to Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) Sunamganj district office, the Surma River is currently flowing at 7.38 cm. Heavy water currents of downstream flow from the hilly areas in bordering states of India are the main cause of the flood.
The water level rose by 0.17 cm at Chhatak Point in the district. Currently, Surma is flowing 0.46 cm above the danger level which is about 8.57 cm.
The water level of the Old Surma River in Derai Upazila has increased by 0.03 cm and is flowing at a height of 6.16 cm, which is a mere 0.39 cm below the danger level.
However, the water level of the Jadukata River in Tahirpur upazila of the district and Saktiarkhala point of Bishwambarpur upazila has decreased by 0.44 cm to 6.56 cm, which is 1.49 cm below the danger level.
Besides, the water of Naljur River in Jagannathpur upazila of the district has decreased by 0.01 cm to 6.52 cm and the water of Patnai River in Tahirpur upazila has increased by 0.34 cm and is currently flowing below the danger level at 6.48 cm.
Roads in some upazilas have already submerged in water. Locals are forced to use boats to travel from one place to another.
Thousands of people living in the haor region and bordering areas are currently passing their days in fear remembering the severity of last year’s flood.
According to BWDB’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, Sunamganj received 72 mm of rain on June 28, 117 mm on June 29 and 150 mm on June 30. In the last month, Sunamganj received a total of about 1,316 mm of rain. Which is the highest in the country.
The water level of all the rivers in the northeastern part of the country is increasing. The water levels of major rivers in Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrakona districts, namely Jadukata, Surma, Kushiara, Sarigoain and Someswari are expected to rise rapidly and cause flooding in the region.
Ajit Kumar, a resident of Maheshkhala village of Madhyanagar upazila, said that due to excessive rainfall in Meghalaya, the water is overflowing the roads in the border area of Banshikunda North Union of the upazila and entering the haor area.
Mehdi Hasan, who came to the district town from Tahirpur upazila, said that connecting roads of Biswambarpur and Tahirpur upazilas to Sadar has been submerged in water. People living in bordering upazilas are finding it difficult to travel.
BWDB Sunamganj Executive Engineer Mamun Howladar said the rainfall has increased in Sunamganj and its bordering towns of India.
From Thursday afternoon to Friday afternoon, there has been 141 mm of rain at Lauergarh Point, 30 mm at Chhatak, 150 mm at Sunamganj and 21 mm at Derai. Surma River is flowing 0.46 cm above the danger level at Chhatak Point.
“Heavy incessant rain has been falling for the past 24 hours. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over northeastern parts of the country and adjoining uplands in the next 72 hours,” he said.
Sunamganj District Commissioner Didare Alam Mohammad Maksud Chowdhury said if there is a threat of flooding due to continuous rain, the government has enough food and aid in stock and the shelters have been prepared.
