Eid joy dims in Sylhet as the city remains waterlogged

Some wade through the dirty water to attend Eid prayers

The persistent torrential rain has left many neighbourhoods in Sylhet city waterlogged once again.

Heavy rain was falling in Sylhet on Monday morning, accompanied by mountain runoff. There was flooding in most Upazilas and waterlogging marred the joy of Eid for Sylhet city residents.

As many as 150,000 people in 10 Upazilas of Sylhet were marooned by the rising water. Three rivers in the district are flowing above their danger levels.

It rained 173.6 mm in 24 hours from 6am on Sunday to 6am on Monday, said Shah Md Sajeeb Hossain, assistant meteorologist of Sylhet Met Office.

Authorities recorded 86 mm of rain from 6am to 9am on Monday, he said.

At least 50 neighbourhoods in Sylhet were inundated due to the rain. The water in many areas was knee-deep or even waist-deep.

The Sobhanighat, Jatarpur, Uposhahar, Pathantula, Dargahmoholla, Payra, Subidbazar Bonkolapara, Chouhatta, Zindabazar, Kajalshah, Medical Road, Bagbari, Kalibari, Howladarpara, Teroratan, Sonarpara, Kewapara, Sagardighirpar, Mia Fazilchist, Jalalabad, Housing Estate, Shahi Eidgah, Ghashitula, Hawapara, Meerabazar, Shibganj, Masimpur, Jamtala and Taltola areas were waterlogged.

“A heavy downpour began on Sunday night and we were worried about water getting inside our home. Then, in the morning, water streamed in and all our belongings at home became wet,” Hossain Mia, a resident of Sobhanighat, said over the phone.

“We went for Eid prayers on Monday wading through dirty water. We can’t stand this problem recurring every few days.”

“When a little rain falls, we get worried about the house getting waterlogged. In the morning, I waded through knee-deep water to attend Eid prayers,” said Amin Chowdhury, who lives in Gorir Upashahar’s D-Block.

“Many houses in our neighbourhood are waterlogged. How can we enjoy Eid? We’re busy dealing with the waterlogging.”

Three rivers in the district had their water flowing over the danger levels at three points as of 9am on Monday, said Executive Engineer Deepak Ranjan Das of the Sylhet Water Development Board.

He said the Surma River was flowing 72 cm above the danger level at Kanaighat Point. At the same time, the Kushiyara River was flowing 65 cm above the danger mark at the Fenchuganj point. The water in the Sari River flowed 19 cm above the danger level at the Sarighat point.

“The water levels of all rivers in Sylhet continue to rise," Das said. "The situation will worsen if the rain continues.”

Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Rasel Hasan said 142,185 people in 512 villages in Sylhet Sadar, South Surma, Osmaninagar, Biswanath, Fenchuganj, Balaganj, Gowainghat, Golapganj, Kompaniganj and Biyanibazar Upazilas were marooned by the floodwater.

Authorities have prepared 538 shelters in 13 Upazilas, he said.

“We’re continuing to distribute relief goods among the flood victims and monitoring the situation carefully. A few medical teams have been formed as well.”