Staff Reporter :
Dhaka city collapsed at the torrential overnight rain for two days to get traffic congestions in many areas of the Dhaka city, leaving commuters in trouble.
Busy roads in Mirpur Kazipara, Shewrapara, Azimpur, Kalabagan, Jatrabari, Demra, Shanir Akhra, Motijheel, Rampura, Dhanmondi, Karwan Bazar, and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar were submerged obstructing movement for several hours.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), 150mm of rainfall was recorded on Monday and Tuesday, the highest in the monsoon.
“Rainfall started from Sunday that night and 19mm of rain was recorded until 6am. It increased later and 63mm
was recorded on Monday and 87mm on Tuesday” said Omar Faruk, Meteorologist of BMD.
“This level of rainfall will likely continue until July 23 in many areas, including Dhaka,” he said.
Mizan Mollik, who arrived at Nayabazar from Old Dhaka in the morning, said: “I live in Kamrangirchar. Water has entered the houses of all local people. They have been in huge trouble since early morning.”
“Water entered the ground floor of my home as well. It has also caused a crisis of drinking water,” he added.
Zahangir Alam, a rickshaw puller from Jatrabari, said water flooded his home. Yet he drive his rickshaw for living. His wife and two children were left at flooded home.
The waterlogging caused prolonged traffic congestion from Malibag to Kakrail around 11 am.
Waterlogging at Nayapaltan thwarted the movement of autorickshaws and smaller vehicles and forced people to ignore the waters to reach their destinations. The rainwater flooded roadside shops on both sides of Nayapaltan Road.
Dr. AKM Saiful Islam, Professor of Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM) in BUET, told the Daily New Nation, “Monsoon is active over Bangladesh and strong over the North Bay. It may rain for few more days.”
“Now the water level of the river is much above the danger level. So the city’s water has to be drained by submersible pump,” he added.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Tuesday forecast that rain or thundershowers may continue over the next 72 hours across the country.
“Light to moderate rain, thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur in the most areas over all divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places,” the Met Office said in a bulletin.
Also Read – Overnight rains lead to waterlogging in Dhaka
According to BMD, 87mm rain was recorded in the capital in 24 hours until 6am on Tuesday.
During this period, the Met Office recorded 925mm rain across the country and the highest, 101mm, was recorded in Cox’s Bazar.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam said he was going to Rokeya Sarani to “Witness the sufferings facing the people” taking “prompt decision to reduce the waterlogging”.
He said waterlogging removal is next to the Metro Rail and Elevated Expressway in importance but overloaded.
“We will hold a meeting with all stakeholders within a few days to solve the problem,” he said.
Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said WASA was responsible for water logging in Dhaka city as the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009 authorised them to deal with this issue, he said.
So, if the WASA handed over the authority to the DSCC, it will certainly deal with the issue in a proper and effective manner, he said.
