Heavy Rain Disrupts Life in Ctg, Sylhet Cities

Flood in Khagrachhari, fresh areas in Netrakona inundated

2 July 2009, 17:00 PM

Star National Desk

Heavy downpour for the last 2-3 days coupled with onrush of hill water has triggered flash flood in several areas of Khagrachhari while floodwater has submerged more low-lying areas in Netrakona. Heavy rain for the last three days disrupted life also in Chittagong city and submerged the low-lying areas. Meanwhile, water-logging in Sylhet city and surrounding areas due to rain is causing immense sufferings to the townsfolk. Our Khagrachhari Corres-pondent reports: Around 10 thousand people of Merung, Merung Bazar, Bachha Merung, Hazachhara, Kobakhali, Betchhari and Chhoto Merung under Dighinala upazila have been marooned and road links in several areas snapped due to rain in the last couple of days. Dighinala Upazila Administration sources said, the Mainee River overflowed due to onrush of hill water triggering flood in at least 25 villages. The helpless villagers have taken shelter in six temporary flood shelters with their domestic animals. Roads linking Dighinala and Merung and some other areas of the district have gone under water. Our Correspondent from Netrakona says: Flood situation in Netrakona worsened further in the bordering areas of Durgapur and Kalmakanda while more low-lying areas of Kalmakanda, Mohanganj and Khaliajuri upazilas went under water as heavy rainfall and onrush of hill water from across the border continued. The newly affected areas are Barkapon, Chowhatta, Ranagoun, Majipara, Korla-para, Bariund, Gobindapur, Kashabpur, Kagajipara, Basiorpasha and Baltali under Kalmakanda upazila. Many low-lying areas of Mohonganj and Khaliajuri have also been submerged. The 5 kilometre-long Gutora to Barkhapon road in Kalmakanda upazila and 4-kilometre Udoypur to Rika Bazar road have gone under water. Erosion of the Ubdakhali River has also taken a serious turn as the river devoured about 50 dwelling houses of Kashobpur village. Our CU Correspondent adds: Heavy rain for the third consecutive day yesterday disrupted normal life in the city and triggered a flood like situation at Lohagara and Mirsarai upazilas of the district. Water-logging kept people of many areas of the city at home while the commuters experienced a serious gridlock at city's busy thoroughfares at Agrabad, Dewan Hat, Sholoshahar Gate No 2, Murad Pur and Bohoddar Hat intersections. Local met office recorded a total of 57 mm rainfall in the last 24-hours ending at 3.00pm yesterday. The downpour that started on Tuesday morning inundated the low-lying areas of Bakolia, Halishahar A block, H Block and I Block, Agrabad CDA Residential area, Bepari Para, Shanti Bag, Shaymali Residential area, Bohoddar Hat, Murad Pur, Shulok Bahar, Kapash Gola and Chawk Bazar. However, water in most areas started receding after the rain ceased at 2:00pm and water-logging could not take a serious turn, thanks to the ongoing excavation and renovation of city canals. Meanwhile, some areas under Lohagara upazila went under water where the Dalu River embankment developed breaches at some points. Low-lying areas under Mirsarai upazila also submerged due to onrush of hill water. Our Staff Correspondent from Sylhet adds: Heavy rain yesterday paralysed the city life submerging many low-lying areas by noon. Water logging in Sylhet city and its suburbs during the rainy season remains a nagging problem for the townsfolk. Officials at Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) admitted that rainwater cannot pass through the drains and canals as those have been narrowed down by land grabbers and dumping of waste. Roads at Bilopar, Kuarpar, Laladighirpar, Kanishail, Hawapara, Dargah mohalla, Kajolshah, Bagbari, Shahjalal Upashahar, Tero Ratan, Jatarpur, Hosnabad, Jhalopara and Mendibag go under water even after a little rain. A number of shopping malls and kitchen markets also face the same problem. Traders at the markets shut down their shops during the shower as the road in front of their markets become waterlogged.