Flash flood hits 5 upazilas in Sylhet, marooning 4 lakh

Around 400,000 people in five bordering upazilas in Sylhet have been marooned in flash flood triggered by heavy rain and onrush of upstream water.

A total of 470 shelter centers have been opened for flood affected people of Kanaighat, Jaintapur, Gowainghat, Companyganj and Zakiganj.

District administration allocated rice, dry food and cash money for the flood affected people.

Water Development Board sources said waters of Surma, Kushiyara and Sari rivers were flowing above the danger line at five points till 3pm on Thursday.

Sylhet District Disaster Management Committee held a meeting in the wake of the flash flood as Deputy Commissioner Md Kamrul Hasan rushed to flood affected upazilas to monitor the flood situation.

Army members have also been kept ready to response quickly.

Jaintapur Upazila Parishad Chairman Liakat Ali said apart from Tila area of the upazila, maximum areas went under water.

More than one lakh people remain stranded by the flash flood in the upazila, he said adding flood water was flowing above the Sylhet-Tamabil road at one point in the upazila but later the water level came down.

Gowainghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Touhidul Islam said 75 percent areas in the upazila have been affected by the flash flood as over a lakh people have been marooned.

Rescue operation is going on in tourist areas including Jaflong and Bisnakandi, he said.

Islam said tourists have been asked to avoid these spots now.

The UNO said as there was flood forecast, they kept prepared 56 shelter centers. As many as 167 families took shelter last night as the number reached 300 in the morning today, he said.

Sylhet additional deputy commissioner Mohammad Mobarak Hossain said flood situation is worse in Kanaighat, Gowainghat and Jaintapur upazilas.

Upazila administrations are carrying out rescue operation with the help of locals while army member have already visited affected areas and if required, they also join the rescue operation.