Sylhet representative: Banvasi people spent the whole night in fear. Incessant rains and water from hills caused flooding in five upazilas of Sylhet. The situation worsened last night. Banvasi people are being rescued and taken to shelters. Nilet Tamabil Highway is waterlogged, and traffic is closed. Such a situation has been created due to dikes breaking in various places along the border river, including Surma-Sari. At several points, the water level of the river has crossed the boundary.
Local residents said that there has been erosion in four parts of the Sari Goain Wapda embankment project in the bordering upazila of Jaintapur. Due to this, the houses of Jaintapur Upazila Sadar got water. The water was coming in at a high speed until Thursday morning. Political workers, including BGB, are on the ground to rescue people trapped in water, according to the latest news.
On the other hand, the communication system has been completely cut off at Goainghat. Millions of people are stuck in the water. People are taking shelter in different shelters. 80% of the houses and roads of all the unions of the upazila have been submerged due to three consecutive days of rain and the downpours from the Sari and Piain rivers upstream. Upazila East Jaflong, East Alirgaon, West Alirgaon, Middle Jaflong, West Jaflong, Sadar, Rastampur, Bichnakandi, Towakul, Lengura, Daubari, and Nandirgaon Unions are completely submerged. Part of Fatehpur Union has been inundated. All the roads, including the Sari-Goain and Goain-Salutikor roads, are under water.
Meanwhile, people are in the dark due to a lack of electricity. If more water rises, all past records will be broken, the residents think. Water-logged people in many places were eager to go to shelters. Apart from this, extensive damage is expected to the fish, saplings, nurseries, and vegetable fields of the fishery.
On the second day in Jaintapur, water has entered the upazila Sadar due to continuous rains and hill slopes coming down from upstream.
The waters of the Sari, Bara Nayagang, and Rangpani rivers are flowing over the boundary line. As the rains continue, the locals fear that the floods will last for a long time. On Wednesday night, water entered various areas of the upazila Sadar. Erosion has occurred in four sections of the Sari Gwain Wapda Embankment Project. Jaintapur Upazila Sadar’s houses have water. Water was flowing on the Sylhet Tamibal road until Thursday morning.
At 12 o’clock in the night, the former president of Jaintapur Press Club, Saheed Ahmad, gave a status on Facebook: “Someone sent a boat to the center of Mainahati; some people are trapped.” There were many requests for the rescue of those trapped through social media. Jaintapur Press Club President Nurul Islam said that water has entered the press club. The entire area is submerged in torrential water. Millions of people are stuck in the water.
It can be seen on the ground that the residents of the lower areas of Nijpat, Jaintapur, and Charikata Union have become waterlogged. Meanwhile, administration officials are monitoring the flood situation.
Nijpat Lamapara, Bandarhati, Mainahati, Jangalhati, Barakhel, Meghli, Tilkaipara, Phulbari, Nayabari, Horni, Bairakhel, Gobari, DBIR Haor, Ghilatoil, Muktapur, Biraimara Haor, Kharubil, Lamanigram, Katakhal, Baurbhag, Chatlarpar, Dultirpar, Number One Laxmipur, Number Two Lakshmipur, Ambari, Jhingabari, Kanthalbari, Naljuri, Kendri, Thubang, Kalinji, Lala, Tumair, Sheolartuk, and Baon Haor were flooded.
The water of the Sari, Bara Nayagang, and Rangpani rivers, the largest of the upazila, is flowing 10.9 cm above the boundary line.
Surrey-GGoain Embankment Project Officer Md. Ala Uddin said water flowed towards the town due to continuous rains and hill slopes. And the situation took a turn for the worse.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Umme Salik Rumaiya, said that the flood was caused by hill slopes and continuous rain. We are in the field day and night, and we have made arrangements to rescue the trapped people. Relief operations are also continuing.
Deepak Ranjan Das, executive engineer of Paubo Sylhet, said that due to increased rainfall in India’s Meghalaya, floods have occurred in uphelas in Bangladesh. Hopefully, the situation will improve as the rain subsides and the water recedes. But it will take time for the situation to improve.
Goainghat Upazila is the executive officer. Tauhidul Islam said that flood situations have occurred in 12 out of 13 unions. People have already taken shelter in shelters. We are constantly monitoring and on the ground.
Kanighat upazila executive officer Farzana Nasreen said that water has entered the upazila. Surma Dike is broken. Because of this flood, water spread to different areas. He said that the flood victims are coming to the shelter.
The late Russell Hasan, Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet, said we are keeping an eye on Banvasi people. BGB and administration people are in the field for rescue. It is expected that the situation will improve if the rain stops upstream, i.e., in Meghalaya.
