Special Correspondent :
The overall flood situation in the country is worsening as the water levels of all major rivers, including those in three districts under the Sylhet division, continue to rise rapidly.
This is due to heavy rainfall recorded in upstream areas as well as parts of Sylhet and Sunamganj districts and Meghalaya in India.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday directed all concerned, including the civil administration, to take necessary preparations in advance to face the probable floods.
In the meantime, around 600 tourists have become stranded in Rangamati after torrential overnight rainfall submerged the Baily Bridge, suspending road communication between Sajek and Khagrachhari.
Over three lakh people have been marooned due to flooding in five affected districts. All major rivers in the country recorded rising water levels on Tuesday.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has forecast further increases in water levels, predicting heavy rainfall in the North, North-eastern, South-eastern, and adjoining upstream parts of the country over the next 24 hours. Almost all rivers in the country have been flowing above the danger mark, according to various agencies.
The BWDB’s FFWC reports that the water levels of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna rivers are rising and may continue to do so over the next 72 hours.
The Ganges-Padma rivers are also on a rising trend, which may continue for the next 24 hours, while the major rivers in the North-Eastern region of the country are expected to continue rising overall in the next 24 hours.
In the Northern region, water levels of the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers may rise to points that may cross the danger level for short periods.
Additionally, in the next 48 hours, the water level of the Brahmaputra may rise and cross the danger level at certain points. In the next 24 hours, the flood situation in the low-lying areas of Sylhet, Sunamganj, and Netrokona districts may deteriorate slightly and remain steady for Moulvibazar district.
The water levels of the Muhuri, Feni, Halda, Sangu, and Matamuhuri rivers in the South-eastern region may rise and flow close to the danger level during this period.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department and the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, a cyclonic circulation lies over north Bangladesh, another over Assam, and a trough runs from northeast Madhya Pradesh to the cyclonic circulation over Assam at lower tropospheric levels.
Under their influence, widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Northeast India, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and Sikkim, with scattered to fairly widespread rainfall over East India during the next five days.
The meteorological departments forecast isolated heavy rainfall over Bihar, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura; Andaman and Nicobar Islands; Gangetic West Bengal; Jharkhand; and Odisha until July 6.
The Storm Warning Center of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecast that light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds are likely to occur at most places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions, with moderately heavy to very heavy falls in some areas. However, day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged.
In a five-day outlook, the BMD stated that rain or thundershower activity is likely to decrease towards the end of the period.
Correspondents from the Sylhet region reported that vast low-lying areas were flooded and there was waterlogging in Sylhet city and Sunamganj town following the rainfall. Road communication with Sylhet city’s Companiganj and Gowainghat upazilas has been disrupted due to the overflowing water on the Sylhet-Sunamganj highway.
On Tuesday, water from the Surma River was flowing 117cm above the danger level in Sylhet’s Kanaighat, 95cm above the danger level at Sunamganj’s Chhatak, and 27cm above in Sunamganj town, according to the Bangladesh Water Development Board. Meanwhile, in Sylhet city, the Surma River was flowing only 1cm below the danger level.
The Kushiyara River was flowing 77cm above the danger level in Amalshid in Sylhet’s Zakiganj upazila, 23cm above in Sheola in Sylhet’s Beanibazar upazila, and 95cm above in Sylhet’s Fenchuganj upazila.
The same river was flowing 14cm above the danger level at Sherpur in Moulvibazar. Additionally, the Sari-Gowain River was flowing 3cm above the danger level at Gowainghat upazila in Sylhet, and the Manu River was flowing 10cm above the danger level in Moulvibazar Sadar.