5 Sunamganj upazilas flooded

Six days of heavy rain and onrush of upstream waters have flooded five upazilas in Sunamganj in north east of Bangladesh.

Rising water level has inundated the low-lying areas of Sadar, Tahirpur, Doarabazar, Biswambharpur and Jamalganj.

The swelling Surma, Jadukata, Rokti, Boulai, Kangsha and several other rivers have submerged settlements and roads in adjacent areas near the border.

According to Sunamganj Water Development Board the Surma River at Shologhor point was flowing 84cm above the danger level at 9am Thursday.

The board also reported 168mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours.

Md Abu Bakar Siddique, executive engineer at the Water Development Board, said: "The heavy rain, coupled with the upstream waters, has raised water levels of the rivers and haors submerging the adjacent areas."

In response, Sunamganj relief and rehabilitation officer Md Fazlur Rahman said 300 tonnes of rice and 1,265 packets of dry food have been supplied at 11 upazilas.  

Fazlur Rahman said: "Every family will get 30kg of rice.

"An additional 200 tonnes of rice and Tk 3 lakh have been kept in stock."