Staff Reporter :
Most thoroughfares in the capital went under water yesterday following incessant rains leaving Dhaka residents to immensely suffer. In fact the entire country became paralyzed with communication temporarily snapped locally.
In the capital rain water remained stagnant for hours on most city streets, bringing traffic almost to a halt in many areas, much to the sufferings of traders, employees of different organisations and pedestrians.
In Chattogram city roads were inundated with knee deep water at most places including business centers and city hubs.
Boats and rickshaws were at work to ferry people stranded at many places while most people remained indoor away from work place for safety. There were only few transport in the water flooded city streets.
In Bandarban rain water similarly inundated roads and major parts of the district town snapping road link with Rangamati district headquarters. People also used boats instead of rickshaw for movement on emergency basis while few motor vehicles were visible on the roads.
Roads, lanes and bi-lanes in Farmgate, Green Road, Manik Mia Avenue, Dhanmoni 27, Shukrabad, Subhanbagh, Tejturi Bazar, Agargaon, Mirpur, Kazipara, Begum Rokeya Sarani, Karwan Bazar, Shantinagar, Rayerbazar, Jatrabari and some other lower-lying areas in Dhaka were inundated.
Thousands of city dwellers especially office-goers and school, college and university students were the worst sufferers of the situation.
Many motor vehicles, including CNG-run auto-rickshaws and private cars, got stuck in different water-logged thoroughfares, forcing passengers to get down from the vehicles in knee-to-waist-deep water. Some passengers were also seen pushing their inoperative vehicles from the back.
Commuters were seen standed at bus stops for hours on Tuesday morning. Because of dumping water on roads people were unable to move on foot. Women commuters were helpless all the move.
Golam Rasul, a bank employee, said he waited for an hour at College Gate for his office pick-up.
“Imagine the suffering of those who were trying to take public transport,” he said.
Ongoing road digging and construction works of metro rail also added to people’s sufferings in many areas, said Akmal Hossain, a private service holder.
Visiting many areas this correspondent saw heaps of mud, bricks and brick-chips, sand and pipes lying helter-skelter narrowing the roads and causing severe traffic congestion. Scores of passengers remained stranded on the roads due to unbearable traffic jam.
This is taking huge toll on their valuable time, energy and life-span.
Garbage and filths piled up in the capital mix with rain water made the city polluted and almost unlivable in some parts
Waterlogging is a chronic problem faced by the inhabitants of the capital. Major canals of the city have been grabbed by powerful people. Besides, culverts, box culverts and drains have choked in absence of maintenance.
As a result, there is hardly any outlet for rainwater to pass. Only one or two hours’ rain is enough to cause waterlogging in the capital exposing the people to sufferings.
A resident of Azimpur government officers’ quarter said heavy rain has created water-stagnation inside the colony where at least two big trees were uprooted.
The entire country is witnessing heavy rainfall, with 55mm recorded in Dhaka in the last 24hrs till 6am Tuesday, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
From 6:00am to 12:00pm, another 2mm rain was recorded in Dhaka.
Meanwhile, the highest rainfall 110mm-was recorded at Feni.
The Bangladesh Met office, also issued a heavy rainfall warning: “Due to active monsoon heavy (44-88 mm) to very heavy (>89 mm) rainfall with gusty wind is likely to occur at places over Chittagong, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet divisions during next 24hrs commencing at 11:00am on Tuesday.”
The warning further added, “due to very heavy rainfall landslides may occur at places over the hilly regions of Chittagong and Sylhet divisions.”
The Met Office says due to heavy rainfall, landslides may occur in Chittagong and Sylhet divisions.
Meanwhile, The district administration of Chattogram has issued evacuation alert for residents of certain hilly areas, which are under the risks of possible landslides due to heavy rainfall.
Chattogram sadar circle assistant commissioner (Land) Abdullah Al Mansur said evacuation alert is being announced through loudspeaker in 9 risky hilly areas in four circles of Chattogram city.
Mansur said occupants, who are living in the bottom of certain hills, have been alerted to leave the risky areas. However, if someone still stays there, the administration will forcefully remove them.
A shelter center has also been prepared at Lalkhan Govt. Primary school in city for the displaced people, he said.
On the other hand, Patenga Met office duty assistant officer Pradip Kanti Roy said 113.8 mm rainfall has been recorded in last 24 hours till Tuesday afternoon. High tide is flowing in Karnaphuli river.
