Water levels in several rivers across Sylhet increased at four monitoring points on Saturday following days of continuous rainfall and upstream inflows, although authorities said the overall flood situation remains under close watch.
According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the water level of the Surma River at the Sylhet monitoring station rose from 9.78 metres at 6 am to 9.80 metres by 3pm on Saturday. However, the river's water level at the Kanaighat point fell by 0.05 metre during the same period.
Embankments in Khulna's Batiaghata face breach risk amid rising water levels
The Kushiyara River also recorded a slight rise at the Fenchuganj station, increasing from 9.66 metres at 6am to 9.69 metres at 3pm. Water levels at the river's Amalshid, Sheola and Sherpur points, however, showed a declining trend.
Meanwhile, water levels also increased slightly at two other monitoring stations. The Sari-Gowain River at Gowainghat rose from 9.77 metres in the morning to 9.82 metres in the afternoon, while the Dhalai River at Islampur increased from 9.45 metres to 9.55 metres over the same period.
Despite a reduction in rainfall, the BWDB said the risk of flooding has not yet subsided.
BWDB Sylhet Executive Engineer Dipak Ranjan Das said there had been little rainfall in Sylhet since Saturday morning and upstream inflows had also eased.
"As a result, water levels have fallen at some points while rising by three to five centimetres at others. However, river levels may increase again if rainfall and upstream flows intensify," he said.
Assistant Meteorologist Rudra Talukdar of the Sylhet Meteorological Office said the district recorded 65.2 millimetres of rainfall in the 24 hours from 6am Friday to 6am Saturday.
He added that intermittent rainfall is likely to continue in Sylhet for at least the next two days.