Flash floods are becoming a new normal in the northeastern region of Bangladesh. Within the last two months, Sylhet district has faced two flash floods, and they hit the Sunamganj district three times.

On June 16, 2022, the heavy rainfall started in the northeastern region, and specifically, the Meghalaya and Assam region were facing downpours. The wave of haor was deadly, and the airspeed was high. Rapidly the flood water was entering the northeastern region of Bangladesh (Sunamganj district). During the disaster, I was stuck in Tahirpur Upazila of Sunamganj district. Before this disastrous incident, I had never seen how fast the water level rose in such a short time. That night when the precipitation was heavy, we didn’t realize the intensity of the flood in the Sylhet region because there was no electricity, most of our mobile phones were dead, and the internet connection was unavailable. The very next morning, news started coming from the surrounding area that the flooding condition was getting worse.

Geographically, Tahirpur Upazila is situated in the foothills of the Meghalya Asam hill region and surrounded by Tangua Haor, Metir Haor, and Shonir Haor, which makes the Upazila one of the major hotspots for flooding. This Upazila lost road-based communication with Sunamganj and waterway communication turned into a death trap as water level and wave intensity increased continuously. So, I had to stay there for four days. I witnessed the devastation caused by flooding firsthand. Almost everyone took shelter in a school. Water was everywhere, and there was no dry place for animals or humans. The panic of the food crisis was spreading across the market. The majority of tubewells were submerged by flood water and the crisis of fresh drinking water was increasing. Local people started rainwater harvesting but the quantity was nothing compared to their necessity. So, they started using haor water for daily chores like drinking, showering, washing utensils, and sanitation which was detrimental to their health, but there was no alternative way available.

The area lost the electricity connection because the wire was submerged in haor water. I couldn’t charge my camera and mobile and couldn’t capture the whole scenario. There was a generator in the market, but it was insufficient compared to the local necessity to charge their electronic devices.

On the fourth day of the flood, the consistency of precipitation was getting lower, and the water level began to drop. I was sun rays though it was only for a few seconds! People were very optimistic there. They did not waste a moment putting full effort into returning to their usual life. They started catching fish, drying their clothes on the available dry street, and chatting to calm their minds.