Strong fear of landslides, floods trigger in Sylhet

Sylhet Bureau :
As a result of heavy rainfall, Sylhet has faced the threat of early flooding. Sylhet city and neighboring lowlands have already been submerged in water since yesterday morning. In various areas of the city, including Dakshin Surma, Sadar, Companyganj, Jokiganj and Kanighat, all the rivers have increased in water. Vegetables and agricultural crops have gone down a lot. There is a risk of heavy rain in Sylhet for the next 15 days. As a result Sylhet may flood in two weeks. In this situation, the district administration has arranged relief materials including cash. Shelters are being prepared.
After the ’emergency meeting of the Disaster Management Committee’ in the conference room of the Sylhet District Commissioner’s on Thursday. Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Mojibor Rahman gave this information.
Deputy Commissioner Md. Mojibor Rahman said – ‘There has been heavy rain in Sylhet for the past few days. There is a forecast – there will be heavy rains in Sylhet for the next 15 days. Sylhet district may receive 1400 mm rainfall in these few days. As a result, there is a danger of flooding in Sylhet. In case of flood, we want to prepare in advance considering its damage. To this end, today (Thursday) I had a virtual meeting with the executive officers and chairman of all upazilas of the district. Everyone has been informed about the situation in their respective upazilas and instructions have been given to keep them fully prepared.
Referring to the executive officers and chairmen of the upazila, the Deputy Commissioner said that the water in the rivers of the upazilas containing the river has increased a lot in the last few days. However, it has not yet risen above the danger level. They (executive officers and chairman) said that cash and rice are available in their respective upazilas. But it is not enough. Instructed to send fresh demand. The district administration has sufficient rice and cash available. Will be sent to the upazilas as required.
Besides, the Deputy Commissioner has ordered all the upazila administrations to be ready to evacuate the people living at the foot of the hill in different upazilas.
In response to a question, Md. Mujibur Rahman said – the shelters built during last year’s floods will be prepared again. For this purpose, instructions have been given to create a new list of centers. However, some changes may be made from last time shelters for election polling stations in Sylhet metropolitan area.
DC Mojibor also said that the district administration is preparing to purchase two large steel boats for 3-4 lakh rupees. Reason – The lack of big boats became evident during last year’s floods. Police and fire services have been asked to be ready to deal with the flood situation.
Representatives of Sylhet City Corporation, Sylhet Metropolitan Police, District Police, Fire and Civil Defense and Roads and Highways Department were present in the emergency meeting of Disaster Management Committee.
On the surface inspection, it can be seen that water has entered the houses of various areas including Khozarkhala, Mominkhala along with the main road of Lawai area of South Surma. Flooding has occurred in the entire area.
There is no end to the suffering of several families in this village. When it rains a little, the water sinks into the house. Due to which the residents of this village are suffering a lot.
Mostafa Kamal Palash, a PhD researcher on meteorology and climate at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, said that there is a risk of landslides and floods in the rivers of Sylhet division.
In a post on Facebook on Thursday (June 15) morning, he expressed this concern. At the same time he presented detailed information.
He writes, Sunamganj and Sylhet districts and Meghalaya mountain border area (at Cherrapunji) received very heavy rainfall till June 14 afternoon. After midnight on June 14th till 8 am today, June 15th, heavy rains again occurred and are still continuing.
By the end of Thursday, there is a strong fear of landslides in the rivers of Indian border areas of Sunamganj and Sylhet districts.
All forecast models indicate the possibility of heavy rain over the districts of Sylhet division in the next 10 days till June 25.
Major weather forecast models indicate the possibility of rainfall of up to 1000 mm in Sunamganj and Sylhet districts and bordering Meghalaya mountains (at Cherrapunji) till June 25.
Finally, he writes, if the above forecast is correct, there is a strong risk of a moderate flood in the districts of Sylhet division between June 16 and June 25.
Meanwhile, heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur in Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions under the influence of south-west monsoon, said the Meteorological Department. The rainfall has been reported from 6 pm on Wednesday (June 14) for the next 48 hours.