Floods ravaging Sylhet and Sunamganj districts worsened as water levels of the region’s rivers rose further due to heavy downpour and onrush of hilly water triggering immense suffering to the lakhs of people, officials said Thursday. 

In Sylhet around three lakh people of five upazilas under the district have been marooned due to flood. 

According to the Water Development Board, Surma and Kushirara, two major rivers in the district swelled at various points till 9am on Thursday.  Surma River was flowing 0.99 centimeters and 0.25 centimeters above the danger mark at Kanaighat and Sylhet points respectively.  

Besides, water in the Kushiara River was flowing 0.3 centimeters above the danger level at the Fenchuganj point and the Sari River was flowing 0.32 centimeters above the danger mark at Sarighat point. 

Meanwhile, flood waters from Surma River have flowed into houses and shops in Sylhet city. At least 10 places in the city have gone under knee-deep water. 

River water has entered the Kalighat and Mohajonpatti wholesale market. Businessmen of the two markets have expressed worries as river water entered their shops for the second time in a month.  Flood water also entered Taltola, Jamtola, Sobhanighat, Terorton, Upasohor in the city. Sufferings of the commuters have increased as roads of these areas have been inundated. Many people are leaving the city for safe and dry places.  

Sylhet Water Development Board executive engineer Asif Ahmed said at least 500 villages of Companiganj, Gowainghat, Jaintapur, Kanaighat, and Sylhet sadar have been inundated. Educational institutions, government-private offices, and roads of the upazila have also been swamped.

Houses, roads, educational institutions, and shops in low-lying areas of the upazilas have gone under flood water. 

Road communication has been disrupted among all unions under Gowainghat upazila. Around 90 per cent of people of the upazila have been marooned. People living in eastern, western and central Jaflong , Alir Gaon, Rustampur, Tuakul, Lengura areas have also been stranded by floods.  

Tahmilur Rahman, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Gowainghat said a large number of people have been marooned due to the second round of flood. The administration has prepared 42 shelters and initiative has been taken to take the marooned people to the shelters with the help of people’s representatives.

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Meanwhile, Laxmiprashad East and West, Chatul, and low-lying areas of Kanaighat upazila have been inundated due to the flood water. Hundreds of people of border upazila Zakiganj have also been marooned.  

Met office said heavy downpour might occur till June 23 in Sylhet which can lead to a flood with dire consequences. 

In Sunamganj  water in Surma River was flowing 55 centimeters above the danger mark, while it was 213 centimeters above the danger mark at Chhatak point on Thursday morning. 

Water Development Board has recorded 185mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours in the district. More than three lakh people have been marooned in the districts due to the flood for the second phase just after one month. 

Several hundred houses, more than 200 educational institutions, and at least 100 fish enclosures went under water in recent days in Chhatak.

Berajpur, Noapara, Alampur, Bilpar, Dashghar, Krishnanagar, Anondonagar, Bagain, Lakshmipur, Gabindanagar and Mohonpur areas of the upazila are worst affected.

Chhatak Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mamunur Rahman said ten shelters have been opened in Chhatak upazila for the flood victims. More than 150 families have already taken shelter at these shelters. The administration has been distributing relief materials among the flood victims.