Floods wreak havoc on roads in Sylhet, Sunamganj

The three phases of flood have badly damaged the roads in nine upazilas of Sunamganj and two upazilas of Sylhet district, shattering communication in the division and causing vast suffering to the people, reports BSS.

According to officials of Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) and Roads and Highways Department (RHD), around one thousand 210 km of roads in the districts have been destroyed by flood continuing from 25 June.

Kamrul Islam Amirul, Chairman of Nandirgoan Union in Gowaingaht upazila of Sylhet district said the bricks and the soil on the roads have been washed away by floodwater.

Sylhet LGED executive engineer SM Mohsin said though flood water is reducing, around 275 km of roads are still submerged by water, adding that the loss could be around Tk 2 billion.

“The roads will be repaired after the water recedes.” he added.

Sylhet LGED executive engineer Md Mahbub Alom said communication on 25 roads in seven upazilas have been severely damaged and road communication between Sunamganj sadar and Chhatak, Doarabazar, Tahirpur and Jamalganj upazilas is cut off.

“Around 925 km of roads in the districts have been destroyed by flood that loss could be around tk 5 billion” he added.

He said they have informed the higher authorities about the matter, and sought emergency allocation of funds for repairing the roads.

The ongoing flood has submerged a vast area of paddy and vegetable fields in the region, mainly in the Sylhet and Habiganj districts, affecting farmers.

Sylhet deputy commissioner (DC) M Kazi Emdadul Islam said around 100,000 people in 8 upazilla of Sylhet district has been badly affected.

They have taken measures to face any situation as 45 metric tonnes of rice and 500 packets of light foods have been distributed among the flood affected people in Sylhet.

Nearly 4 to 5 lack people have been affected by flood water in Sunamganj.

Deputy commissioner (DC) of Sunamanj district Md Matiur Rahman said relief goods have been distributed among 13,000 flood affected families in Sunamganj.

According to Bangladesh water development board (BWDB) local office source, water of Surma and Kushiara river is flowing under the danger line at Kanaighat, Sylhet and Sunamganj station and Amalshid of Zakiganj, Shewla of Beanibazar and Sherpur station of Moulovibazar.

Water of the rivers in Sylhet division is in reducing trend in last 24 hours.