Moulvibazar flood situation improves, worsens in Sylhet

A man tries to throw a net for fishing on flooded Dhaka-Sylhet highway. Photo: Prothom Alo
A man tries to throw a net for fishing on flooded Dhaka-Sylhet highway. Photo: Prothom Alo

The overall flood situation in Moulvibazar district improved further on Tuesday while deteriorated in Sylhet, reports UNB.

In Moulvibazar, water receded from many more affected areas in Kulaura and Kamalganj upazilas with the decrease in the water level of the Manu and Dhalai rivers.

However, the dyke along the Kushiara river broke down in Rajnagar upazila, inundating new areas.

The fresh breach in the dam submerged Uttarbagh and Fatehpur unions and the gushing water started to engulf their adjacent areas.

The flood situation in Moulvibazar municipality and sadar upazila remained unchanged.

Many roads and houses, schools and business establishments were under knee-deep water in the municipality and sadar upazila as the water of the Manu river continued to enter through the breach of the town protection dam.

Meanwhile, gushing water of the Kushiara river through a breach at Hamarkona inundated three villages of Khalilpur union and two others of Manumukh union in Sadar upazila.

Social welfare minister Rashed Khan Menon visited the flood-affected areas on Tuesday and distributed relief goods among the victims at Syedpur of the municipality and Sherpur of Sadar upazila.

In Sylhet, some 40,000 residents of Beanibazar upazila have been marooned in flashfloods amid alarming rise of water levels in the Surma, Kushiara and Sonai rivers.

According to sources, at least four upazilas in the district have their communication system cut off from the rest of the country.

Beanibazar upazila nirbahi officer Kazi Arifur Rahman said breaching of dikes in the Kushiara river in five spots has increased the level of damage inflicted by the floods.

Hiron Mahmud, project implementation officer, said no shelter centre has so far been opened, but estimated that over 40,000 people have been marooned in various areas of the upazila.

Paresh Chandra Das, local agriculture officer, said Aus paddy on 940 hectares out of total 2,327 hectares of land has been damaged, causing an estimated loss of Tk 6.5 crore.

Upon investigation, it was found that the areas of Dubag Bazar, Mewa Point, Kakardia and others were inundated, alongside the upazila's villages of Ramda, Sridhara, Chandgram, Tajpur and many more.

Meanwhile, education minister and local MP Nurul Islam Nahid visited the flood-affected and distributed relief among the affected people.

Upazila administration sources said 15 tonnes of rice and 300 packets of dry food have already been distributed from their end, with many more to follow.

In Faridpur, in alliance with other rivers of the country, the water level of the Padma river was increasing day by day.

People of the low-lying areas along with the local administration were seen busy taking preparations to face any possible flood.

A total of 13 unions of four upazilas in the district are inundated during the monsoon every year.

Faridpur deputy director Umme Salma Tanjia said they have completed all preparations to face any flood.

Deputy director of local Agricultural Extension Department office Kantik Chandra Chakrabarty said people in the low-lying areas were asked through the local public representatives to remain alert.