Port city lamed by tidal surges
Incessant drizzling over the last three days till yesterday afternoon has disrupted normal life in the port city as people of many areas experienced waterlogging.
Drizzling and tidal surges of two to four feet above normal height following land depression also caused low-lying areas and different city streets to go under water.
According to the Met office at Patenga, the metropolitan city and adjoining areas experienced 123.8mm of rainfall during the last three days till 3:00pm yesterday.
Low-lying areas like Chawk Bazar, Muradpur, Bakalia, Chaktai, Khatunganj, Agrabad CDA Residential Area, Agrabad Access Road and Halishahar were inundated.
Unavailability of public vehicles intensified people's sufferings during the period.
Dwellers of Agrabad CDA Residential area are the worst sufferers as the area went under knee-deep to waist-deep water for several hours during the tidal surge in last three days.
Water enters the ground floors of every buildings in this area damaging the furniture, said Dr Ashraf, a dweller, adding that movement of motor cars became completely impossible during the surge.
Travelling on rickshaws is also risky as it is difficult to notice the potholes for the rickshaw pullers, he said mentioning about a few accidents occurred in last few days.
The authorities of Agrabad Women College located in the area were forced to close the college by 1:00pm yesterday.
Principal Anwara Alam said classes would be disrupted further if such tidal surge continues.
Business activities slowed down in wholesale markets like Chaktai and Khatunganj as loading, unloading, transport of goods, and sale were hampered due to the rainfall.
Chittagong City Corporation Mayor M Manjur Alam said they took several short-term projects like renovation of several canals in last few months to rid the port city people of chronic waterlogging.
The mayor said implementation of Drainage Master Plan would be a permanent solution to the problem.
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