Flood risks are once again surging in Sylhet district and a number of villages bordering India have already gone under water, raising the likelihood that the majority of the district could be inundated for the third time in just about a month.

Heavy rainfall and onrush of upstream river water from India’s Cherapunji hilly area have flooded border villages in the upazilas named Gowainghat, Companiganj, Jaintapur, and Kanaighat. People are rushing to seek shelter and higher grounds in some other remote parts well within the border.

For example, parts of Anwarpur area on the Tairpur-Sunamganj road have been flooded, forcing people to stay in local boats.

Meteorologist Shah Md Sajib Hossain of the Sylhet weather office told reporters that there was three hours of continuous rain on Monday morning. “About 65-mm rain was recorded during 6am-9am on Monday,” the meteorologist said.

Water is flowing above danger levels at different points in both Surma and Kushiara rivers. On Monday evening water was flowing 88 centimetres above danger level at Fenchuganj point of Surma river, 102 centimetres above danger level at Kanaighat point in Surma river, 28 centimetre above danger level at Sylhet city point in Surma river. Water in Sari river was also flowing above danger level by 35 centimetres on Monday evening.

Water was flowing 6 centimetres above danger level at Surma river’s Sylhet city point at 3pm in the evening, but surged higher by nearly five times within three hours, all but assuring flooding in the city with two more days of rains remaining, according to the Met office.