Surma River
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts.Many units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Surma River
River of Assam, giving its name to the southern of the two valleys which originally constituted that Province. It rises on the southern slopes of the great mountain range which forms the northern boundary of Manipur. From there it flows for about 180 miles in a south-westerly direction till it reaches British territory at Tipaimukh. The upper part of its course, where it is known as the Barak, lies through narrow valleys shut in on either side by hills that rise steeply from the river ; and for a short distance it forms the boun- dary between the Naga Hills and Manipur. At Tipaimukh it turns sharply to the north, and for some distance divides Cachar from Mani- pur in a line almost parallel to that taken by the river in its downward sweep. Near Lakhipur it turns west and enters Cachar District, through which it flows with an extremely tortuous course till Sylhet is reached at Badarpur. A few miles west of that place the river divides into two branches. One stream, known as the Surma, flows near the foot of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills past Sylhet, Chhatak, and Sunamganj, and then turns again towards the south. The second branch is known at first as the Kusiyara, but after its confluence with the Manu it again divides into two branches. The northern arm, called the Bibiyana and after- wards the Kalni, rejoins the Surma on the borders of the District near Ajmiriganj. The lower branch of the Barak, resuming the name by which the river is known in Manipur and Cachar, passes Nabiganj and Habiganj, and falls into the Surma a little west of the latter place. The total length of the Surma, measured along the northern arm of the river from its source to its confluence with the old stream of the Brahmaputra near Bhairab Bazar, is about 560 miles. The Barak receives numerous tributaries, the most important being on the north the Jiri, Jatinga, Bogapani, and Jadukata, and on the south the Sonai, Dhaleswari, Singla, Langai, Manu, and Khowai. In the upper part of its course it flows in a very deep channel, and, though rain in the hills often makes the river rise many feet in a few hours, it seldom overflows its banks. Lower down, where the bed of the river is not so deep, its waters sometimes spread over the surrounding country, and the floods of both the Surma and the Kusiyara are said to do some damage. In a low-lying District like Sylhet, which receives an enormous rainfall, it is practically impossible to confine rivers within embankments ; and the only works of this nature constructed on the Surma are a small embankment along the north bank of the Kusiyara from Fenchuganj to Manikkona, and a raised road from Noakhali to Sylhet along the south bank of the Surma. Prior to the construction of the Assam-Bengal Railway, the Surma, with its numerous branches, was practically the only means of communication between Cachar and Sylhet and the outside world ; and it still takes a large share in the carrying trade of the country. During the rainy season, large steamers proceed up the Kusiyara to Silchar, while steamers of lighter draught ply between Silchar and lakhipur, and from Markhali near the western border of Sylhet past Sunamganj and chhatak to Sylhet town. In the cold season the large steamers go to Chhatak, and only small steamers can pass up the Kusiyara to Silchar, as at that time of the year there is very little water in the river. The surface of all the numerous chan- nels of this river is dotted with native boats of various shapes and sizes at all seasons of the year, and in that part of its course where it flows through or in the neighbourhood of the hills the scenery is extremely picturesque. Its importance as a trade route has caused many local marts to spring up on its banks. The most important of these are — on the river prior to its bifurcation, where it is known as the Barak — Lakhipur, Silchar, Siyaltek, and Badarpur, where it is spanned by a magnificent railway bridge. On the Surma, or northern branch, are Kanairghat, Sylhet, Chhatak, Dwara Bazar, and Sunamganj ; while on the Kusiyara are Karlmganj, Fenchuganj, Balaganj, Manumukh, and Ajmiriganj. These are, however, only the more important centres of local trade. Throughout the whole of its course in the plains the banks of the various branches of the river are lined with villages, and there are numerous markets of less importance.
