Rains flood northeast, southwest

Persistent rain for the past few days has caused severe flooding across several villages of north-eastern Sylhet and south-western Satkhira districts, reports UNB.

In Sylhet, four upazilas were inundated due to incessant rainfall and hilly onrush for the past three days, leaving several hundred thousand people marooned.

Severe flooding has been reported in Kanaighat, Jakiganj, Goainghat and Jaintapur upazilas that caused untold sufferings to the people.

Regional roads, fish enclosures, houses, business establishments - all kinds of structures were submerged in rainwater that once it fell to the ground, had nowhere to run.

Flood control embankments broke at many points flooding at least 30 villages where hundreds of people remain trapped.

Local Water Development Board executive officer Sirajul Islam said water of Surma river was flowing 22 centimeter above the danger level at Sylhet, and 2.6 cm above the D-L in Kanaighat while water of Kushiara river was flowing 94 cm above the danger level at Shewla in Bianibazar and 14 cm above at Sherpur.

The flood control embankment continues to be under severe threat of giving away along 20 points deemed to be critical were under severe threat as rivers were flowing above danger level, he added.

In Satkhira, five villages of Ashasuni upazila were submerged along with paddy field, fish enclosures, houses, local schools and mosques.

Witnesses said the flood control embankment broke at Government Primary School point flooding Bollobpur, Anulia, Bisot, Gharali and Nayakhali and adjacent villages.

Anulia Union chairman Alamgir Alam Liton said "The food water rapidly engulfing the villages after embankment broke at Kholpetua point. We asked Water Development Board to reformation the old and fragile embankment but they have to steps of doing it."

After the high tide locals themselves will start the reformation work of damaged embankments, he said.