Water has risen in the Sundarbans under the influence of a depression. A tidal surge two and a half to three feet higher than normal high tide has flooded the forest.

On Thursday (29 May), the tide raised water at Dublar Char in the Sundarbans three feet above normal, and at Karamjal by two and a half feet, flooding wide areas of the forest. Serious harm to the forest or wildlife is not feared, however, because the water will recede at ebb tide.

The abnormal tide also flooded low-lying parts of Mongla, especially low areas of Joymoni, Chila, Kalatala and Burirdanga on the banks of the Pasur and Mongla rivers.

Md Khalilur Rahman, officer in charge of the Sundarbans Dubla patrol outpost, said the sea had been very rough since Wednesday, with gusty winds and rain.

Md Azad Kabir, officer in charge of the Karamjal Wildlife and Tourism Centre, said water at Karamjal had risen two and a half feet above normal, submerging the centre's footpaths and the forest. He said wildlife would not be much harmed because the water would go down after about two hours, and raised mounds have been built at various places inside the forest where animals shelter when the water rises.

Kumar Swastik, executive engineer of the Bagerhat Water Development Board, said the depression had raised the Pasur river at Mongla two feet above normal, and in places the water in the Sundarbans had risen two and a half to three feet.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.