Flood situation in Sylhet and the country’s north region has started be improved while water level at 59 river stations monitored by Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) have marked rise while 48 stations recorded fall.
Sylhet flood: situation continues to improve, people returning home
In Sylhet, the flood situation in the district continued to improve as rainfall and upstream water flow have decreased along with reduction in the water levels in various rivers.
The past two days of sunny weather have contributed to the reduction of floodwaters in all upazilas of the district.
Meanwhile, the water level of the Surma River in the city has fallen and is now flowing three centimeters below the danger level and the water has begun to recede from various houses, prompting some families to return home from shelters.
However, the slow drainage due to clogged and unconnected drains in Sylhet city has created unsanitary conditions, with dirty water accumulating in many homes.
While the floodwater is receding, heavy rainfall could once again worsen the situation, exacerbating the hardships for those returning to their homes from the shelters. Any increase in water levels would severely impact these individuals, he said.
As of Saturday morning, the water level of the Surma River at the Sylhet point has fallen below the danger level, flowing at 10.74 centimeters below it. On Friday, the water level at this point was 9 centimeters above the danger line.
At 9am Saturday, the water level of the Kushiyara River at Amalsid point was 15 centimeters above the danger level, down from 36 centimeters on Friday.
The water level at the Fenchuganj point of the Kushiyara River remained unchanged, flowing at 10.48 centimeters above the danger level both on Friday and Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, at the Sherpur point, the Kushiyara River water level decreased to 13 centimeters above the danger level, down from 18 centimeters on Friday.
Additionally, water levels in the Lova, Sari, Dawki, Sarigoin, and Dhalai rivers have also fallen.
Despite the improving flood situation, people trapped in flooded areas are facing food shortages and a lack of clean water.
Flood situation improves in Lalmonirhat as water levels in Teesta River fall below danger level
In Lalmonirhat, though the flood situation of the Teesta River in the northern district of Lalmonirhat has slightly improved, people of low-lying areas along the river are still facing hardships.
The water flow in the country’s largest irrigation project, the Teesta Barrage, was nearly at danger levels for the past few days.
However, as of 6am on Saturday, the water level dropped to 51 centimeters below the danger mark, and by 9am, it had further decreased to 53 centimeters below.
The flooding deteriorated last Wednesday when water levels at the Teesta’s Dalia point rose, causing inundation of the low-lying areas along the riverbanks.
By Friday morning, the water had started to recede, leading to some improvement in the flood situation. Nonetheless, the situation has not yet returned to normal.
In several areas such as Gokunda, Kalmati, Gobardhan, and the riverine chars and lowlands in the Sadar and Aditmari upazilas, many homes are still waterlogged.
Seedbeds of Aman paddy and other croplands remain submerged along with resurfacing the roads in the river chars and lowlands.
While water has drained from some higher ground houses, mud remains both inside and outside, making movement difficult for residents. Many tube wells and toilets are still underwater.
Flood-affected residents alleged that they have received no governmental or non-governmental aid.
59 rivers swell, 48 fall
Meanwhile, water levels at 59 river stations monitored by Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) have marked rise while 48 stations recorded fall.
Among the 110 monitored river stations, two have been registered steady and water levels at seven river stations are flowing above the danger level, a bulletin issued by the FFWC said on Saturday.
The Teesta river is flowing at 15cm above danger level at Kaunia station while the Surma at Kanaighat, the Kushiyara at Amalsad, at Sherpur-Sylhet and at Markuli, the Old Surma at Derai and the Someshwari at Kalmakanda are flowing 35cm, 15cm, 18cm, 39cm, 23cm and 34cm are flowing respectively.
The Brahmaputra river is in falling trend, which may continue in the next 24 hours. On the other hand, the Jamuna River is in rising trend, which may be in steady state in the next 24 hours, the FFWC bulletin added.
The Ganges-Padma rivers are in rising trend, which may continue in the next 72 hours, the bulletin said, adding that the major rivers in the North-eastern region of the country are in falling trend which may continue in the next 72 hours.
Overall improvement of the flood situation in various low-lying areas under districts of the North-eastern part of the country may continue in the next 72 hours.
According to the information from meteorological organisations, low to medium rainfall in next 24 hours and medium to heavy rainfall in the next 48 to 72 hours is expected in the Northern and adjoining upstream parts of the country.
As a result, the water level of Dudhkumar, Teesta and Dharla rivers in those regions may fall in the next 24 hours which may rise in particular time in the next 48 to 72 hours.
