Although floodwater started to recede from many areas in the flood-affected area in Sylhet district, the victims were going through immense sufferings for want of food and drinking water.

A total of 8.5 lakh people, including 15,000 in Sylhet city, are still stranded as the two major rivers of the district were flowing above the danger level in four points.

According to the local administration sources, some 107 unions and eight wards of the city are still under water.

A total of 19,738 people are still living at the shelter centres while 2,000 people left the centres as flood water receded from their areas.

Kabir Ahmed, a day labour of Chiknagul in Jointapur upazila, said “When we were in the shelter centres there was food and drinking water but now I am worried about food and drinking water after returning home. The whole house was damaged and the paddy which was stored in my house was washed away. What should I eat now.”

Besides, the tube-wells were submerged, creating a crisis of pure drinking water.

However, the water has not yet fully receded from the roads and houses in many low-lying areas.

According to the Sylhet Water Development Board, Surma was flowing 22 cm above its danger mark at Kanaighat point at 3 pm on Sunday while in Sylhet point it was flowing below the danger level.

Besides, the Kushiara was flowing 40 cm above its danger point at Amalshid point, 99 cm above at Fenchuganj point and nine cm above at Sherpur point.

Dipak Ranjan Das, executive engineer of Water Development Board, Sylhet, said the water seems receding slowly and the areas in down-stream were flooded.

Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Russel Hasan, said the flood situation in the district has improved a little and the activities of the control room for observing the flood situation is going on in full swing.

Medical teams were formed and they are conducting their activities in the flood-hit areas, he said.

Though there is a possibility of heavy rainfall activities from June 28, he added.

Besides, drinking water is being provided to the different shelter centres from the two water purification plants in Companyganj and Jointapur upazilas from Friday.

Flood situation worsened in the district since May 27 due to the onrush of water from upstream and torrential rainfall activities for several days.  The situation deteriorated further from June 15.