Across the border, in India, the water level in the rivers of Sylhet is rising due to continuous rains and landslides in the past few days. At the same time, intermittent rain is also continuing in Sylhet. However, the water level in any river has not crossed the danger level yet.
Meanwhile, a portion of the Gowainghat-Radhanagar road in Gowainghat upazila was submerged in water this Saturday morning, making traffic dangerously difficult to navigate.
Sylhet Water Development Board (PAUBO) Executive Engineer Deepak Ranjan Das told Prothom Alo that the water level of all the rivers in the district, including the two main rivers Surma and Kushiyara, is rising. The water level of the Sari-Goain and Dhalai rivers is approaching the danger mark. Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India, received 410 millimeters of rain in 24 hours from 8:30 am on Friday to 8:30 am today. This is a warning. Whenever it rains in India, the mountain floods come to Sylhet through the rivers and rivers on the border.
It has been learnt from local residents that water levels are rising rapidly in the low-lying areas of Gowainghat, Companiganj, Jaintapur, Zakiganj and Kanaighat upazilas. Even if the rain continues, there is a possibility of the situation deteriorating. Jaflong and Bichnakandi, tourist centres in Gowainghat upazila, and Sadapathar, tourist centre in Companiganj upazila, have been flooded. Locals have advised tourists not to visit these places.
Gowainghat Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Ratan Kumar Adhikari said at around 1 pm today that some parts of the low-lying Gowainghat-Radhanagar road in the upazila have been flooded. However, the water will recede once the rains subside. Although no area in the upazila has been flooded yet, they have made all kinds of preparations to deal with the situation. Water is rising in some areas due to continuous hill slopes and rains.
The district administration said that despite the increase in water levels, no one was reported to be trapped in the water. The local administration is monitoring the situation; the public has also been asked to be alert. In addition, adequate stocks of dry food have been kept.
Companyganj UNO Azizunnahar told Prothom Alo that the water level has decreased slightly today compared to yesterday. Although there is water in the low-lying areas, no village or area has been flooded. 35 shelters have been prepared in the upazila. However, no one has needed to take shelter in these shelters yet.
According to the Meteorological Department of Sylhet, 132 millimeters of rain fell in Sylhet in the 24 hours from 6 am yesterday to 6 am today. Later, 1 millimeter of rain fell from 6 am to 9 am today and 7 millimeters from 9 am to 12 noon. This rain is still continuing.
Meanwhile, City Corporation Secretary Ashiq Noor said in an office order that a control room has been set up for emergency communication to take quick and effective steps to resolve waterlogging in various areas of Sylhet city due to sudden heavy rains.
It rained intermittently in Sylhet this Saturday morning as well. Meanwhile, people went out for various activities.Photo: Prothom Alo
The office order said that the control room was opened in room number 205 on the second floor of the City Corporation. Supervising Engineer Ali Akbar is in charge of this room. His mobile number is: 01711906647. Apart from this, Chief Engineer Nur Azizur Rahman and Chief Waste Management Officer Lieutenant Colonel (retd.) Mohammad Eklim Abdin will be in overall supervision to resolve the waterlogging.
The office order has also directed the officers and ward secretaries of the relevant wards of the City Corporation to visit the relevant areas within their jurisdiction and take effective measures to resolve the waterlogging as soon as possible.
When contacted at around 1:30 pm on Saturday, Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Sher Mahbub Murad said he was going to Gowainghat upazila to monitor the situation. He went to Companiganj upazila yesterday. However, the water level of any river in Sylhet has not crossed the danger mark yet. The local administration has made all kinds of preparations to deal with the situation.
Source: Prothom Alo
