Marooned in haor, need food

Local lawmaker Ilias Ali sent some relief materials, but that was a drop in the ocean.

Many people are still on rooftops or makeshift rafts as the flood situation is static there though it is improving slightly in other areas of the district.

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There is no dry or higher place in nearby areas where they can go.

The people are badly in need of dry food and drinking water.

No official team visited the two unions because it is risky to cross the haor in small boats, some people who managed to go to safer places told this correspondent on Monday.

There is no dry place, said Gram Sarker member Abul Kalam of Khujgipur village in Pashchim Gouripur union.

The Sylhet-Sultanpur-Balaganj road can not be spotted now as the whole of the 40 kilometre road is under vast sheets of water. The two roads linking the unions are also under water.

The villages include Atasan, Tekamurda, Mollapara, Srinathpur Teghoria, Ekachikon, Lohamura, Harishyam, Gouripur, Khujgipur, Sharashpur, Naljur, Azizpur, Dohalia, Alampur Bara Hajaripur, Ballavpur, Ramkrishnapur, Ziapur, Khoyerpur, Konapara, Zakirpur, Galmukapon, Jonepur, Ishagrai, Tohurpur, Moshadia, Adampur, Ahmedpur and Moshakhola.

Two high schools and all the primary schools in the unions are under water. Azizpur Union Health Centre is also surrounded by water.

Four markets in the area at Jalalpur, Rakhalerbazar, Bangla Bazar and Hajipur bazaar are inundated by three to four feet water, said one Selim Awal, who crossed the haor and came to Sylhet city on Monday.

"It is risky to go there in small boats due to strong waves. Speed boat or motorised boat is safer", he said.

Bullocks are standing in two to three feet water in cowsheds. These will die from disease and want of fodder, he said.

Selim said, waters from Surma and Kushiyara rivers are rolling to the low-lying two unions through Jalalpur and Kaipur points and the flood situation there will not improve soon.