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.

Major rivers in Sylhet including the Surma and the Kushiyara have started swelling again due to incessant rains since Tuesday, creating panic among local people already devastated by worst flood in living memory. The Surma and the Kushiyara rivers are flowing above their danger levels at some points Thursday morning following heavy downpour in two days since Tuesday. Read:Over 30 lakh homeless, 40,000 houses destroyed in flood-hit Sylhet The floodwaters in the areas adjacent to Surma, Dhalai, Piyain, Sari and Lova river banks almost receded till Tuesday afternoon. But the Surma River is flowing 0.84cm above the danger level at Kanaighat point while the Kushiyara is flowing 1.12cm above the red level at Amalshid point  Thursday morning, according to Sylhet Water Development Board. The water level of the Kushiyara River is in rising trend at Sheola and Fenchuganj points. AKM Niloy Pasha, sub-divisional engineer of Sylhet Water Development Board, said, “It is raining in Sylhet as well as in upstream. As a result, the water of these rivers is rising.” In Sunamganj, rains started again from Monday after a week. Rivers are swelling again due to onrush of water from upstream triggered by rains in Meghalaya and Cherrapunji of India. The water level of the Surma River has increased by 32 cm in the last three days. According to Sunamganj Water Development Board, the Surma river was flowing 3 cm below the danger level near Sunamganj town at 12 noon on Thursday. However, the river is flowing 83cm above the danger level in near Chhatak upazila as the district recorded 195mm rainfall in the last 24 hours.

Incessant rainfall for the last three days caused waterlogging in low-lying areas of Chattogram port city. Some people were seen wading through knee to waist-deep water to reach their destinations in the morning due to lack of transport. Office-goers and others had to pay extra fares to reach their workplaces. Also read: Heavy downpour floods Chattogram city; 4 killed in landslides Many areas including Bakolia, Agrabad, Muradpur, No 2 Gate, Bohoddar Hat were submerged by rainwater, triggering traffic jam in different parts of the city.