Ceaseless rains cause waterlogging, public sufferings at its worst in Chattogram
33.6mm of rainfall was recorded in Chattogram in the last 24 hours till 3pm on Tuesday
Roads are submerged in knee-deep water. Water has seeped into alleys and even houses. Vehicles are stuck on roads. The people of Chattogram are suffering due to serious waterlogging caused by incessant rain.
It started raining in the port city from Sunday last, submerging several places including Halishahar, Bakalia, Agrabad, Shulkabahar, Kapasgola and CDA residential areas.
According to the Patenga Meteorological Department, 33.6mm of rainfall was recorded in Chattogram in the last 24 hours till 3pm on Tuesday.
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Assistant Meteorologist Ujjwal Kanti Pal said the amount of rain in Chattogram may increase after 12 at night on Tuesday. Maritime and river ports have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal number 3 and distant cautionary signal number 1 respectively.
Meanwhile, hundreds of vehicles are getting stranded on roads due to waterlogging. Traffic was stopped in different areas.
Ishtiaq Hossain, a pedestrian in Agrabad at around 1pm on Tuesday, said the CDA residential area was immersed under knee-deep water. "So, I was sitting at home since morning, but I was finally forced to go out."
Maheshkhal has been flooded by tidal water, causing waterlogging in Agrabad and surrounding areas. The ground floor of the Chattogram Maternal and Child Hospital in the area has already been submerged.
Hospital Ward Master Alamgir Hossain said the ground floor goes under water as soon as the tide comes in. Water enters the hospital twice a day. Furniture downstairs has been shifted. Doctors are giving treatment on the upper floor.
There were very few vehicles on the road due to rain and waterlogging. CNG-powered auto-rickshaws and rickshaws were also fewer on the roads which is why the fare was double that in usual times.
Meanwhile, the running work of a mega project worth Tk5,616 crore to alleviate waterlogging in Chattogram city has been halted due to coronavirus.
The 34th Engineering Corps of the Bangladesh Army is supervising the physical work of the project.
Project Director Lt Colonel Shah Ali said the pace of work has slowed down due to the pandemic. So, the work could not be completed on time.
"However, there is far less water logging than there was last year. Heavy rains are causing waterlogging in low-lying areas but we are cleaning the drains so that water does not accumulate for a long time. Multiple teams of the army are working to reduce public suffering."
