More than 50,000 people have been stranded due to the incessant rain in Rangpur since Saturday. Almost all areas of Rangpur city got inundated in record-breaking overnight rainfall, causing untold sufferings to thousands of residents. The meteorological department in Rangpur has recorded 433mm rainfall in the district from 10pm Saturday for 12 hours, the highest rainfall in the shortest duration in 100 years. All the roads and thoroughfares were under waist- to knee-deep water. People were seen wading through filthy water to go to their destinations. Some were busy protecting their homes and shops from water while others were trying to drain and scoop water out. People in low lying areas were the worst sufferers. Many had to seek shelter elsewhere as their homes got inundated.
The night was simply grotesque for many neighbourhoods when power outage covers the entire city with torrential rain. Such waterlogging was reported in the city on July 20 after heavy rainfall. But no action was taken to increase the water flow of Shyamasundari and KD canals — considered the lifeline of Rangpur city. Residents said water was not receding smoothly as the sewers could not drain towards the rivers. The number of drains in the city is not adequate.
Meanwhile, water of Teesta, Karatoa, Ghagat and Jamuneshwari has been flowing near the danger level. Large croplands in the area have already been flooded due to the rainfall. Third term flood is creeping to inundate the vast floodplain that might affect the winter vegetables in the northern region amid the rebounding economy from COVID-19 impact.
Years after years the almost all city corporations allocate budget for updating drainage system but the budget ultimately drains into the officials’ pockets. Lack of coordinated, cost-effective effort and use of poor materials in drain construction and overall lack of monitoring system is responsible for waterlogging in most cities. Besides, city dwellers behaviour to through each and everything into drain help to clog water flow. The authority must work in behaviour change of city dwellers and quality, cost-effective work to solve waterlogging and alternate use of rainwater.
