Sylhet, June 3 (UNI) With two major rivers flowing above the danger mark, the water level continues to rise in Bangladesh’s Sylhet district, despite the heavy rains subsiding, straining transport and communication, and waterlogging several areas.

According to the Sylhet office of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Surma and Kushiyara rivers were flowing above the danger mark at four points in the morning, leading to increased fear of floods as the authorities were assessing the rising water levels, reports Business Standard BD.

While no new areas were inundated on Tuesday, many low-lying villages and roads in five unions of Zakiganj upazila (sub-district) remained submerged. Local authorities, however, said the water receded from the market area by early morning.

Apart from Surma and Kushiyara, water levels have also increased in the Dholai, Lova, Sari, and Dawki rivers.

Only the Sari-Goyain river saw a slight decrease in water level.

Furthermore, several upazilas including Gowainghat, Companiganj, Fenchuganj, Kanaighat, Jaintiapur, Beanibazar, and Osmaninagar have been flooded by the river swell.

According to the Sylhet Meteorological Office, 26.6 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in the district in the 24 hours until 6 am Tuesday.

Water Development Board Sylhet Executive Engineer Deepak Ranjan Das said if there's no fresh heavy rainfall, the situation may normalise within the next couple of days.

Water swells like these are fairly common in countries such as Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, as well as the India’s West Bengal, due to their location in the Bay of Bengal.

However, the effects vary between areas, because while India has adequate infrastructure to prevent severe flooding, the lack of required mechanisms in Myanmar and the unplanned urbanisation in Bangladesh have led to massive floods during the monsoon season, causing much disruption in transport, communication, as well as long term property damage. UNI ANV SSP