Flood situation in Sylhet, Sunamganj likely to improve

A low-pressure area over the sea is unlikely to bring heavy rainfall to the two districts

The flood situation in Sylhet and Sunamganj is likely to improve as the water level in the Surma River continues to fall, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) under the Bangladesh Water Development Board.

In its regular bulletin on Thursday, the FFWC said the Kushiara River was flowing 31cm above the danger level at the Fenchuganj point in Sylhet and 19 centimetres above the danger level at the Markuli point in Sunamganj.

An official of the FFWC told bdnews24.com on Thursday afternoon, “The water level at the two points that are currently above the danger level is expected to recede. There is also no upstream surge of water coming from India at the moment. Rainfall has decreased as well. Overall, the flood situation in the two districts is expected to improve. Although a low-pressure area has formed over the sea, it is not likely to bring heavy rainfall to the two districts over the next three days.”

The FFWC said water levels in the Kushiara River rose over the past 24 hours, while the Surma River continued to recede. Both rivers are expected to fall over the next three days.

Flood conditions in low-lying areas along the Surma and Kushiara rivers in Sylhet and Sunamganj may therefore improve over the next 24 hours.

The centre also said water levels in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna river system rose over the past 24 hours and may continue rising over the next five days, remaining below the danger level.

Water levels in the Ganges-Padma river system have also increased over the past 24 hours and may continue to rise over the next five days, but are likely to stay below the danger level.

In the northeastern Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions, water levels in the Manu, Dhalai, Khowai and Sarigowain rivers have risen over the past 24 hours and are expected to decline over the next three days.

Meanwhile, water levels in the Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers in the northern Rangpur Division have fallen over the past 24 hours and may continue to decrease over the next three days.

The FFWC said water levels in the Kirtankhola, Lower- Meghna, Pashur, Ichhamati and other coastal rivers in the Barishal and Khulna divisions are flowing below the danger level, with normal tidal conditions prevailing.

However, tides in these rivers may stay higher than normal over the next three days.