15 areas in Chattogram city were inundated on Tuesday after four days of intermittent heavy rainfall, disrupting traffic and causing widespread public suffering.
According to the Patenga Meteorological Office, 412.3mm of rainfall was recorded in the 24 hours until 3:00pm Tuesday. Assistant Meteorologist Suman Saha said the low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is likely to keep heavy to very heavy rainfall continuing for another two to three days.
Water logging occurred as rainwater could not drain through canals and drains, leaving roads and residential areas submerged in several parts of the city. The worst-affected areas included Agrabad, Patenga, Ishan Mahajan Road in Kattali, Sonali and Bashundhara residential areas in Halishahar, Rampur, Chhoto Pul, Anandapur, Access Road, Chawkbazar, Katalganj, Kapasgola, Badurtala, Faridar Para in Chandgaon and Mohra.
Vehicular movement remained suspended in several inundated areas until noon, while commuters were seen using rickshaws to cross flooded roads.
Chattogram City Corporation Deputy Chief Conservancy Officer Pronab Kumar Sharma said waterlogging was reported in parts of Katalganj, Mohra, North Agrabad and Patenga after exceptionally heavy rainfall coincided with high tide. He said water was receding quickly as canals and drains had been cleared, and city authorities had been working since morning to ease the situation.
Meanwhile, train services were also affected after water accumulated on the railway tracks between Sholoshahar Railway Station and Janalihat. The Cox's Bazar-bound Tourist Express from Dhaka was delayed after becoming stranded shortly after leaving Chattogram Railway Station with more than 1,000 passengers.
