Photo: Messenger
Heavy rain has been ongoing since Wednesday, leading to flooding in many important areas and roads of Chattogram city, causing significant inconvenience to the city dwellers.
A total of 149.6 mm of rain was recorded in the last 24 hours until 12 noon on Thursday (August 1), according to the Patenga Meteorological Office. In the previous 24 hours, up until 9 am, 112 mm of rain was recorded. Md. Ali Akbar, assistant meteorologist of Patenga Meteorological Office, mentioned over the phone that the rainfall may continue for the next 24 hours due to active monsoon winds, with a potential reduction in intensity from the following day.
The tide began at 5 am on Thursday, with low tide starting at 10:51 am. The tide is expected to come again at 5:41 pm.
Due to the heavy rain, several low-lying areas in Chittagong, including GEC Mor, Pravartak Mor, Panchlaish, Chawkbazar, Baklia, Chandgaon, Kapasgola, Shulakbahar, Agrabad, and Halishahar, have experienced flooding. This has disrupted normal vehicular traffic on many major roads, with some cars getting stuck in the water, causing significant inconvenience to passengers and pedestrians.
Ali Haider, a resident of Mohammadpur area and a private employee, mentioned that passengers have to pay extra fares due to the rising water in the Bahaddarhat area. Although the minimum fare on this route is usually 5 taka, today auto tempos are collecting 10 taka from passengers, and buses are charging fares of 10 to 20 taka.
Due to the heavy rain, several low-lying areas in Chattogram, including GEC Mor, Pravartak Mor, Panchlaish, Chawkbazar, Baklia, Chandgaon, Kapasgola, Shulakbahar, Agrabad, and Halishahar, have experienced flooding. This has disrupted normal vehicular traffic on many major roads, with some cars getting stuck in the water, causing significant inconvenience to passengers and pedestrians.
Ali Haider, a resident of Mohammadpur area and a private employee, mentioned that passengers have to pay extra fares due to the rising water in the Bahaddarhat area. Although the minimum fare on this route is usually 5 taka, today auto tempos are collecting 10 taka from passengers, and buses are charging fares of 10 to 20 taka.
Heavy rains in Chattogram city have led to significant waterlogging, submerging roads and creating widespread disruptions in the city's low-lying areas. This situation has raised concerns about possible landslides. In some areas, vehicular movement has been halted due to the flooding.
Heavy rain started early Thursday morning (August 1) and the Meteorological Department issued a local cautionary signal number 3 for the Chattogram sea port.
The Patenga Meteorological Office recorded 114 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours.
There are chances of intermittent rain with gusty or stormy winds accompanied by lightning, said the weather office.
Some parts of the city went under knee-deep water, while others under waist-deep water, causing extreme hardship for people going out for various needs.
Roads and alleys in areas including Sholashahar Gate No. 2, Muradpur, Bahaddarhat, Faridarpara, Chandgaon Residential, Katalganj, Kapasgola, Baraipara, DC Road, Bakalia, Chawkbazar Raw Market, Rahmatganj, and Aturar Depot were flooded.
Munira Moni, a private bank officer in the Chawkbazar area, said, "I stepped out of the house to find knee-deep water on the streets. On top of that, there were no rickshaws or CNG autorickshaws. I reached work an hour late."
Additionally, waterlogging on various city roads created traffic chaos. Most roads in low-lying areas became muddy and waterlogged, making it difficult to walk.
Abdul Malek, a resident of Agrabad, said, "It has been raining since last night. Even light rain causes waterlogging here. Additionally, road construction is ongoing in our area. No vehicles come here due to poor road condition caused by digging. I had to wade through dirty water to get back home after going out to buy breakfast this morning."
Assistant Meteorologist Ali Akbar Khan of the Patenga Meteorological Office said, "High variations in air pressure are present in the northern Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh. This has resulted in the continued formation of deep convective clouds in the northern Bay of Bengal region, leading to moderate to heavy rainfall in Chattogram. This rain is likely to continue for another day or two."
Messenger/Fameema
