Heavy overnight rain in Ctg city, major areas waterlogged

Heavy rain last night left large areas of Chattogram city under water causing immense suffering to city dwellers as low-lying areas are submerged in knee-to-waist-deep water.

Torrential rain combined with tidal surge caused waterlogging in low-lying areas including Chawkbazar and Sholashahar Gate 2, Bahaddarhat, Muradpur, West Bakalia DC road, KB Aman Ali road, Agrabad CDA Residential Area, Katalganj R/A, Panchlaish R/A, Shulak Bahar, Khatunganj, Dewan Bazar and Halishahar.

Chattogram Met office recorded 110 mm rain during 12 hours till noon today, our correspondent reports quoting Met office.

Sheikh Farid Ahmed, Met officer of Chattogram Met Office, said heavy to moderate rain will continue for two to three more days in the district due to the monsoon season in the area.

Photo: Rajib Raihan

People living on ground floors of buildings and in tin-shed houses were bailing water out of their homes. Roadside shopkeepers were also seen doing so.

Babul Shil, a barbershop owner at KB Aman Ali road said, "I'll be out of commission until noon. I have removed the water, now I will have to clean the floor."

A large portion of the road between Muradpur and Sholashahar Gate 2 was flooded. Commuters, particularly office goers, had to bear a lot of hardship. Some motorised vehicles got stuck in the water and went out of order. Passengers had to walk through knee-deep water finding no other option.

Photo: Rajib Raihan

A banker, Liakat Ali, had to get down from a CNG-run auto-rickshaw as it had broken down.

"For years, officials from concerned authorities have assured us that waterlogging will be addressed," he said, "But the situation is deteriorating day by day."

Morshedul Alam Chowdhury, deputy chief conservancy officer of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC), said the drains and canals are cleaned regularly but some people still throw household waste and plastic materials, making it difficult for CCC staffers to keep the drains and canals free of obstructions all year.

Photo: Rajib Raihan

Chattogram Development Authority has been working on a mega project to tackle the port city's waterlogging since 2017.

Project Director, Lt Col Shah Ali, said, "We are installing tidal regulators in five of city's main canals, and the work is expected to be completed by this September," he said, adding, "We hope the city dwellers will be relieved from waterlogging to a large extent from next rainy season."