Heavy rains coupled with onrush of upstream water from the hilly regions have worsened flooding in Sherpur and Mymensingh districts, submerging many houses, vast tract of croplands and establishments.
More than 100 villages in Jhenaigati and Nalitabari upazilas of Sherpur district have been inundated by floodwater, displacing thousands of people. Local offices, schools and marketplaces have also gone under water.
Vehicles were stuck in a long tailback on Tangail-Bangabandhu Bridge highway for hours, causing immense sufferings for the passengers.
The Bhogai River in Sherpur was flowing 172cm above the danger level at Nakugaon point, while the Chellakhali River was flowing 526cm above the danger mark.
The authorities warn that the flood situation may deteriorate further if raining continues. The water level of the Someswari River continues to rise, threatening more low-lying areas of Mymensingh and Sherpur
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre also reports rise in the water level of the Bhogai-Kangs, Someswari, and Jingiram rivers, badly affecting Mymensingh, Netrokona, and Jamalpur districts.
Low-lying areas along these rivers could face flooding if water levels continue to surge, though experts expect some relief within the next two days as rain may decrease from Sunday.
The low-lying areas of two Upazilas in Sherpur have been flooded after heavy rain and runoff from upstream caused the Moharashi, Bhogai, and Chellakhali rivers to overflow their banks.
Most of the rural roads and farmland in the upazilas has been inundated. Many houses have gone under knee-deep water. Fish have been washed away from many ponds.
Flash flood occurred in four unions in Jhinaigati Upazila, including the Sadar Bazar and Upazila Parishad intersection, as the heavy rain from Thursday evening to Friday morning caused the Moharashi River to overflow.
The water level of the Bhogai and Chellakhali rivers in the border upazila of Nalitabari has risen. The low-lying areas in three unions, including the Nalitabari municipality, have been submerged by floodwater.
Sources at the Sherpur Water Development Board, the Chellakhali River was flowing 52.5cm above the danger level, while the Bhogai River was flowing 56mm above the danger mark.
On Friday morning, Sherpur Sadar recorded 177mm of rain, Nalitabari 225mm and Nakugaon Point 260 mm.
Jhinaigati Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Ashraful Alam Rasel said: “Part of the low-lying areas in Jhinaigati Sadar, Dhanshail, Kangsha, and Nalkura unions have been inundated by persistent rain and on rush of upstran hilly water.”
“The Upazila Parishad intersection has also gone under water. Some 700-800 people have been marooned by the water in different areas here.”
“The Upazila administration and Fire Service personnel are trying to rescue the people trapped by the water. Dry food is being prepared for distribution among the flood victims,” he added.
He expressed his hope that the water from the flash floods will recede by the evening.
Masud Rana, the Nalitabari Upazila executive officer, said the Bhogai and Chellakhli rivers were flowing above their danger levels, leading to very bad flash flooding in five to six villages in the Poragaon, Ramchandrakura, and Nayabil unions.
People from these villages had moved to safer places as some places have gone under waist to neck-deepwater, he said.
Many are trapped by the water and the Upazila administration and Fire Service personnel are working to rescue them, he said. Dry food is also being arranged for the flood victims.
Accordinng to weather forecast, rain may decrease by Sunday, potentially easing the flood situation in the affected areas and improving road condition. However, flood may worsen in several districts, particularly in Mymensingh and Sherpur.
