Another spell of flood looms over northeastern region

Publish: 7:59 PM, June 29, 2022 | Update: 7:59 PM, June 29, 2022

When people in flood-ravaged northeastern region are still struggling to survive, weather experts are predicting another round of flood in the region due to rains in the next few days.

Sylhet Water Development Board sources said heavy to moderate rains are likely in Sylhet division in the next few days.

“If the rains continue in India, the onrush of water from the upstream may inundate Sylhet region,” said AKM Niloy Pasha, sub-divisional engineer of Sylhet Water Development Board.

Besides, Flood Forecasting & Warning Centre of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said there is chance of heavy rainfall at places in the northern and north-eastern Bangladesh along with Assam, Meghalaya and Sub-Himalayan West-Bengal (Jalpaiguri, Sikkim) of India in next 24-48 hours.

Flood situation in the northern region and low-lying areas of the central region including Sylhet and Sunamganj may slightly deteriorate, it said in their latest warning.

However, the flood situation is unlikely to worsen further after mid-July, reports Bangladesh Weather Observation Team – BWOT, an independent weather research group.

In Sunamganj, the water levels  of different rivers of the district including Surma, Jadukata, Chilai, Khasiyamara, Chela are rising again as the district recorded 196mm rainfall in the last 24 hours.

The Surma River was flowing  83cm above the danger level in Chhatak upazila, 12cm above the danger level in Dirai upazila Wednesday noon.

However, the river was flowing 14cm below the danger level in Sunamganj town, according to Sunamganj Water Development Board.

The water level of the Surma River has increased by 22 cm in the last two days, it added.

Meanwhile, it rained in Sylhet district on Tuesday morning and night, creating fear among local people that the flood situation will prolong for more days.

After about two weeks, the floodwaters receded in most areas of Sylhet. But houses and roads in Balaganj, Osmaninagar, Fenchuganj, Zakiganj, Beanibazar, Jaintapur and Gowainghat upazilas of Sylhet are still under floodwaters.

The residents of these areas are now struggling to recover damages from flood after returning home from shelters.

The two spells of flood have already damaged Boro and Aman crops as well as caused huge losses in various sectors including agriculture, fisheries and tourism.