Photo: Collected
Although flood situation in Sylhet and Sunamganj are improving in a slow pace, over 15 lakh people have been stranded in the two northwestern districts in Bangladesh.
Residents and officials of local administrations said that overall flood situation is in improving trend in both Sylhet and Sunamganj region as no significant rainfall was recorded in the past couple of days.
Echoing the observation made by officials concerned and local people, flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) predicted that overall improvement of the flood situation in various low-lying areas of the North-eastern part of the country may continue in the next 72 hours.
According to the local administration, 15,45,114 people have been marooned in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts as this year's second spell of flood submerged vast swaths of the two district creating huge suffering of the people.
Among the total people, who are marooned by flood water, 6.92 lakh people are in Sunamganj and 8.52 lakh people are in Sylhet, they added.
Officials of Sylhet district administration said the first spell of flood affected thousands of people in 13 upazilas and municipalities of Sylhet district in late May and the flash flood prolonged in the first week of the current month, leaving a large number of people marooned.
The authorities have set up 6,392 shelter centres after the second round of flood hit Sylhet and Sunamganj districts. As flood water started receding, people are going to home from shelter centres.
The Sunamganj district administration sources said flood water submerged 11
upazilas and Sunamgaj municipality. Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation Anwaruzzaman Choudhury said, "Volunteer teams of city corporation are working to extend assistances for flood-hit people. We have arranged adequate amount of food at shelter centres."
A devastating flood, triggered by heavy rainfall and onrush water from hilly regions, have affected 20 lakh people in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts, according to a statement of UNICEF issued on June 23.
The statement, signed by Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh, read among 20 lakh flood affected people in two northeastern regions – Sylhet and Sunamganj - 7.72 lakh are children.
The UNICEF called for emergency assistances for flood-hit children as they (children) are the venerable segment of the population in case of any natural disaster.
Sheldon Yett said, "When flood waters are in rising trend, unsecured condition has been created for children. They face different problems including drowning, malnutrition and various water-borne diseases."
The UNICEF in cooperation with Bangladesh government and other organization working at field level have distributed safe drinking water among one lakh flood-hit people in Sylhet and Sunamganj to reduce their suffering.
Water levels at 55 river stations monitored by Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) have marked rise while 54 stations recorded fall.
Among the 110 monitored river stations, water levels at six river stations are flowing above the danger level, a bulletin issued by the FFWC said here today.
The Surma river is flowing at 23cm above danger level at Kanaighat station while the Kushiyara at Amalsad, at Sherpur-Sylhet and at Markuli, the Old Surma at Derai and the Someshwari at Kalmakanda are flowing at 23cm, 39cm, 07cm, 33cm, 15cm and 29cm respectively.
The Brahmaputra-Jamuna river is in falling trend, which may continue in next 24 hours, the FFWC bulletin said, adding the Ganges-Padma rivers are in rising trend, which may continue in next 72 hours.
The major rivers in the North-eastern region of the country except Kushiyara river are in falling trend which may continue in the next 24 hours.
Overall improvement of the flood situation in various low-lying areas of the North-eastern part of the country may continue in the next 72 hours.
According to the information from meteorological organizations, medium to heavy rainfall in next 24 to 48 hours is expected in the Northern and adjoining upstream parts of the country. As a result, the water level of Teesta river in that region may rise in the next 48 hours.
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