Flood in Sylhet
Incessant rains trigger fear of flood in Sylhet
Low-lying areas of different parts of Sylhet district have been inundated due to onrush of hill water and swelling of rivers caused by torrential rains for the last three days.The water levels in the Kushiara and the Surma Rivers are close to the danger level and may cross it if water levels rise further, said Executive Engineer of Sylhet Water Development Board Ashif Ahmed.
According to the local weather observatory centre, the rains may continue for 15 more days and if rains and onrush of water from upstream continue for a few more days moderate flood may hit the region this week.
Cyclone Sitrang: Heavy rains continue to batter Bangladesh amid flood warning across coastal regionDeputy Commissioner Mojibur Rahman, said already the local administration has taken all necessary measures after holding an emergency meeting on Thursday and the authorities concerned have been asked to keep all shelter centres prepared.Water started to enter many low-lying areas and haor areas due to the rise in water levels of many rivers.
Flash flood likely in south-eastern region: FFWCBesides, Surma River was flowing 12.68 cm against the danger level of 12.65 cm at Kanaighat point while it was flowing 9.38 cm against 10.8 cm danger level at Surma point.The local weather observatory centre recorded 135.4 mm of rainfall from 6 am Thursday till 6 am Friday while 271 mm rains were recorded from 6 am Wednesday till 6 am Thursday.Shah Mohammad Sajeebhossain, assistant meteorologist, said downpour is likely in the district in the next 48 hours. He also asked all to remain alert as onrush of hill water may flood the area during this period.
Heavy rains, upstream water flood 4 villages in FeniLast year, the residents of Sylhet district experienced a devastating flood as 70 percent of the district went under floodwater while 10,000 dwelling houses were damaged, causing immense sufferings to thousands of people.
A week on, flood-hit people of Kurigram cry for relief
People in several flood-affected areas of Kurigram district are crying for relief as authorities scramble to help over two lakh stranded survivors even a week after the natural disaster.
The Brahmaputra river is flowing 37 cm above the danger mark at Chilmari point while the Dharla river is flowing 20 cm above the danger mark at Setu point.
Abdullah Al Mamun, executive engineer of Kurigram Water Development Board, said the flood situation in the district may improve in the next few days.
Shahidul Islam, district education officer, said the educational activities of 65,000 students have been hampered due to the closure of 294 government primary schools in the district.
Besides, 23 secondary schools, seven madrashas and a college are also shut due to the floods.
Flood situation worsens in Sylhet
The overall flood situation in Sylhet deteriorated further on Tuesday due to the swelling of the Kushiara river caused by incessant showers over the last three days, rendering thousand of people homeless.
According to the Water Development Board, the Kushiara was flowing 186cm above the danger level at Amalshid point, 67cm above the danger level at Sheula point, and 8cm above the red mark at Fenchuganj point.
Besides, the Surma river was flowing above the danger mark at all points.
The flood situation in six upazilas of the district -- Jakiganj, Balaganj, Beanibazar, Osmaninagar, Golapganj and Fenchuganj -- has also turned grim due to the swelling of the Kushiara.
Read: Flood situation worsens in Kurigram, over 2 lakh affected
In fact, 60 percent area of Fenchuganj upazila has been flooded while the road link from Sadar upazila to Beanibazar upazila of the district remained snapped.
Balaganj-Khasrupur and Fenchuganj-Balaganj roads are also under water, officials said.
Many new areas of the six upazilas have also been flooded due to the rise in the water level of the Kushiara river.
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Thousands of people have been hit by the floods, while shortage of food and drinking water has mounted the woes of the victims.
The victims alleged that they were yet to get relief materials from the government.
Meanwhile, the flood situation in Sylhet city, Biswanath upazila and Kanaighat upazila of the district remained the same with rains subsiding over the last couple of days.
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Besides, the flood situation in Companiganj, Goainghat and Jointapur upazilas of the district has slightly improved with water levels in major rivers -- the Dhalai, the Pian, the Sari and the Lova -- subsiding. Over 90 percent areas of the three upazilas have been flooded.
The Army, the Navy, the Coast Guard, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the local police have been pressed into action to evacuate the flood victims of the district.
Grameenphone customers in flood-hit Sylhet get 10-minute free talk-time
With the devastating flood in the country's northern and north-east still threatening millions of lives and livelihoods, Grameenphone customers, stuck in the affected areas of Sylhet can now avail of 10 minutes of free talk-time.
The telecom operator already disbursed 10-minute free talk-time with three days validity to all its customers in the flood-affected areas in Sylhet.
During these challenging times, the need for immediate connectivity is paramount but customers face difficulty recharging due to the flood and incessant downpour.
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"It is our moral responsibility to assist those who are stranded and stand by the nation during these times of dire need. We understand our customers' urgent connectivity needs to reach out for any assistance. We are closely monitoring the situation on the field and will remain vigilant going forward to provide connectivity support," said Mohammad Sajjad Hasib, chief marketing officer of Grameenphone.
The flood condition has now been persisting for the past four to five days, with at least 40 lakh people stranded and stuck helpless.
Mobile network and internet connectivity services also had to be compromised in the region due to water logging and electricity failure.
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However, in collaboration with the Posts and Telecommunications Division, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, Bangladesh Army and other stakeholders, Grameenphone is working continuously to overcome the crisis and restore mobile services in the flood-affected region in the earliest alongside exploring alternative feasible solutions to enable the nation to fight the calamity.
Sylhet: A city tries to cope with its worst flood in living memory
Residents of Sylhet city have been suffering since Thursday as all major areas of the city, including houses, shops, and hospitals, went under water.
The low-lying areas of the city were submerged first. People were seen wading through the knee-to-waist deep water.
People in the city were seen making concrete walls with bricks and cement at the entrances of their houses as makeshift dams to protect them from flood water Saturday.
Read: Flood situation turns grim: Power supply to Sylhet, Sunamganj suspended
Water also entered Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, causing immense suffering to the patients.
Local administrations opened several shelters, but they quickly became overcrowded. The inmates of the shelter homes now desperately need food, pure drinking water, and fodder.
The flood situation in Sylhet started turning into a terrible disaster Thursday afternoon as almost all the upazilas and municipal areas went under water. Electricity was cut off in the district on Saturday, although later it was restored partially in the city.
Flood in Sylhet: PDB warns for life safety
The Power Development Board (PDB) in Sylhet has alerted the customers about safety of lives and property in the flood-hit areas.
Shams-e Arefin, executive engineer of the PDB Sales and Distribution Division-2, on Thursday said that the flash floods inundated Sobhanighat, Mendibagh, Muradpur and surrounding areas.
Also read: Worsening floods threaten power supply in Sylhet: officials
For the safety of the lives and property of the power consumers, it has been warned not to touch electric wires, poles or electric components in the flood water. He also requested people to inform PDB Sales and Distribution Division-2 by calling 01625038784 and 02996633173 numbers.
It is very important that everyone plays a responsible role to avoid any accident during the flood, he added.
Also read: Flood situation worsens in Sylhet, Sunamganj, thousands marooned