TROPICAL FLOODING TRIGGERED BY HEAVY RAIN AND TORRENTS CASCADING DOWN FRONTIER HILLS TRAPPED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN MUD FLAT VILLAGES IN NORTH-EASTERN BANGLADESH, LOCAL OFFICIALS SAID MONDAY, DPA REPORTED. THE SURMA AND KUSHIYARA RIVERS, BOTH TRIBUTARIES OF THE MIGHTY BRAHMAPUTRA, WERE THROWN INTO A SPATE AT THE WEEKEND DUE TO SEASONAL DOWNPOURS. SOURCES IN THE MINISTRY OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT SAID THE RAIN- DRIVEN FLOODS FORCED THE EVACUATION OF ABOUT 150,000 PEOPLE FROM THE RICE PLAINS IN FOUR DISTRICTS OF THE SYLHET REGION BORDERING THE INDIAN ASSAM HILLS. "THERE IS NO EMERGENCY SITUATION AS YET, BUT EVEN IF THERE IS ONE IN THE UPCOMING DAYS, THE GOVERNMENT IS FULLY PREPARED TO MEET ANY CRISIS," SAID ASADUL HABIB DULU, THE DEPUTY MINISTER FOR RELIEF. MONSOON RAINS ALSO WRECKED A FLOOD PROTECTION DYKE IN THE NORTH- WESTERN KURIGRAM DISTRICT UNLEASHING MUDSLIDES WHICH DESTROYED 200 HAMLETS MAKING ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE HOMELESS. SWIRLING RIVERS FLOWING ABOVE THE DANGER MARK ALSO ERODED RICE FIELDS, COCONUT PLANTATIONS, HOUSES AND SCHOOLS IN NORTHERN SIRAJGANJ DISTRICT AFFECTING ANOTHER 8,000 PEOPLE, RESCUE WORKERS SAID.
