DHAKA, June 4, 2024 (BSS) - Pre-monsoon rains, triggered by cyclone "Remal", flooded much of Sylhet since late May affecting over seven lakh people, while authorities said flood situation improves slightly as flood water started receding.
 
"Ten upazilas out of 13 under Sylhet district including city corporation areas were badly affected by flash flood due to onrush of water from upstream regions of Indian states - - Assam, Tripura and Meghalay," a spokesperson of local administration told BSS today.

He said, "As many as 7,39,362 people under 10 upazila of Sylhet have been severely affected by this year's first flash flood forcing local administration to take urgent measures to deal with the overall flood situation."

As part of the all-out efforts, Sylhet district administration has set up 571 shelter centres for flood-hit people, Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet district Sheikh Rasel Hasan said flash flood damaged some infrastructures including roads, bridges and houses under five upazilas close to Indian borders.

Standing crops under 10 upazilas of Sylhet were also damaged by flood as low-lying areas in the district are still under flood water, residents and official concerned said.

Flood water submerged 24 wards of Sylhet City Corporation, they said adding overall flood situation is improving very slowly as most areas of Sylhet regions witnessed heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours.

Sub-Divisional Engineer of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) Sajal Kumar Roy said heavy rainfall impacted by cyclonic storm "Remal" which occurred in some Indian states - - Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya - - caused flash flood in the vast swaths of Sylhet.

He acknowledged that rainfall across Sylhet region also contributed to the flash flood as almost the entire country experienced incessant rainfall due to the influence of cyclone Remal that hit Bangladesh coast on May 26 at around 8pm and entire process of crossing of the cyclone ended on May 27.
 
Under the influence of cyclone Remal, southeastern parts of Bangladesh witnessed heavy to very heavy rainfalls causing huge water-logging in Chattogram city and low-lying areas of other parts of the country went under water.
 
Analyzing mathematical model of rainfall cycle, the FFWC official said flood improvement pace is expected to slow as more rainfall is forecasted in upstream regions of Bangladesh.

Water levels at 73 river stations monitored by the FFWC have marked rise while 39 stations recorded fall.

Among the 110 monitored river stations, six have been registered steady and water level at two river stations is flowing above the danger level, a bulletin issued by the FFWC said here today.

Significant rainfall was recorded at some stations in different districts of Bangladesh during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am today.

A total of 104 mm rainfalls were recorded at Lalakhal( Sylhet), 75mm at Sunamganj, 61 mm at Lorergarh, 50mm at Zakiganj(Sylhet), 75mm at Latu (Sylhet), Sherpur (Sylhet), 50mm at Jafflong and 48mm at Kanaighat (Sylhet).
 
During the past 24 hours, significant rainfalls (mm) were recorded at some states of India - West Bangal, Sikkim, Meghalaya and Tripura. A total of 78mm rainfall was recorded at Coochbeher (West Bangal), 39mm at Jalpaiguri (West Bangal), 67mm at Gangtok (Sikkim), 39mm at Agartala and 30mm at Cherrapunji (Meghalaya).

The Brahmaputra-Jamuna rivers are in rising trend, which may continue in next 48 hours, the FFWC bulletin said adding the Ganges river is in steady state while the Padma river is in rising trend, which may continue in next 48 hours.

It also said water level of the major rivers in the North-eastern region of the country are in slow falling trend.

According to information from meteorological organizations, medium to heavy rainfall is expected over the Northern, North-eastern and adjoining upstream parts of the country.

In the next 72 hours, the water level of the main rivers in the North-eastern region of the country may increase at some points especially in the short term in next 24 hours.

In the next 24 to 72 hours, falling of water level of the major rivers in the North-eastern region of the country may continue and flood situation in the low-lying areas of Sylhet district may improve at a slow rate, the FFWC bulletin added.