Several areas of Chattogram have been flooded due to heavy rainfall since Sunday morning. Waterlogging has been reported in different parts of the port city.
According to the Chattogram Meteorological Office, the rain started with thunderstorm in the city and surrounding areas from 8am. Rainfall of 75mm was recorded in the last 24 hours till 12 noon on Sunday. The rainfall was 44 mm from 9am to 12pm.
Shahidul Islam, a meteorologist at the Patenga Meteorological Office, said that moderate to heavy rains started at 9 am. The rainfall was 75.04 mm from Saturday noon to Sunday noon.
The southern region experienced the rain cycle due to the monsoon winds of Myanmar and Teknaf. There may be more rain and thunderstorms in the next one or two days, experts feared.
After visiting Muradpur, Sholashahar, Chawkbazar, Kapasgola, Bahaddarhat, Katalganj, Chaktai, Bakalia, DC Road, Rahmatganj, Halishahar, Chandgaon of the city it was seen that the areas went under knee-deep and waist-deep water.
Traffic on different roads of the city was stopped for hours. Common people faced extreme sufferings. Several houses in the port city were flooded. Patients in several hospitals had to suffer a lot as there was water everywhere.
Jewel Das, a resident of Katalganj, said that he could not go out of his house due to the rain.
Jashim Uddin, a trader at Bahaddarhat Swajan Super Market, said that the ground floor of the market has submerged due to the water.
Reza Ahmed, a bookstore owner in the city, said, “I had to pay extra fare while coming to my shop. The dilapidated condition of the road creates more jeopardy on the city roads during rain.”
Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) is implementing a project spending Tk 5,616 crore to alleviate water logging from Chattogram city. Work of the project has started on April 28, 2018. The sufferings due to the waterlogging have not minimised in three years. Under the project, dams have been constructed at various places.
City Mayor Mohammad Rezaul Karim Chowdhury fears that the city will go under water in the monsoon rain this year if the canal dams are not removed.