Sylhet airport resumes flight operations

Osmani International Airport. Creative Commons

Sylhet, June 23 -- After six days of closure due to the devastating floods, Sylhet's Osmani International Airport resumed flight operations on Thursday.

Two flights -- one on the Sylhet-London route and another on the Sylhet-Manchester route -- took off in the early hours, said

Hafiz Ahmed, director of Osmani International Airport.

Airport authorities had suspended flight operations after flood waters inundated the runway on June 17.

Meanwhile, 1.25 lakh people, who took shelter at different temporary homes, returned to their respective areas following the improvement in the flood situation, said local administration authorities.

As the flood waters have started receding, people are heading towards their respective houses on Thursday.

Kabir Ahmed, a member of No 5 ward of Paschim Islampur union in Companyganj upazila, said many thatched houses have been damaged.

“All paddy stored in the houses have been destroyed. Currently, people are facing financial problems,” he said.

Local administration sources said that 614 shelter homes have been opened in 13 upazilas and the city, where 2, 52,878 people have taken refuge.

Currently, 1,27,653 people are living in 599 temporary shelters, while 1,25,131 left for their homes.

Besides, many areas in the district are still inundated due to the rise in the water level of the Kushiara river.

Additional commissioner of Sylhet division, Debjit Sing, said, "We are monitoring relief distribution to ensure the same reaches all the flood-affected people in phases."- UNB