Where rainfall is a curse

Once again residents in port city had to suffer immensely due to waterlogging caused by torrential rain yesterday. Most low-lying areas in the city went under knee- to waist-deep water.

Chattogram Met Office recorded 33.6mm rain in the past 24 hours till 9am yesterday. Rain would continue in the next 24 hours due to active presence of monsoon air, said Dr Shahidul Islam, meteorologist of Chattogram Met Office.

The Chattogram Port was also advised to hoist cautionary signal number 3.

Due to incessant rain, low-lying areas including Bakalia, Chawkbazar, Bahaddarhat, Muradpur, Sholoshahar Gate No 2, Badurtala, Kapasgola, Agrabad, Port Connecting Road, Halishahar, Shulakbahar, Chandgaon, DC Road, KB Aman Ali Road, and Prabartak Intersection went under water.

A large number of people were seen wading through filthy water to go to their destinations. Some were busy protecting their homes and shops from water while others were trying to drain and scoop out the accumulated water.

Very few vehicles plied the roads and a handful of rickshaws and three-wheelers were seen carrying passengers -- that too for fares no less than exorbitant.

"I have been waiting for a vehicle for around 30 minutes but could not find one," said Rehenuma Khanam, a resident of city's Rahattarpool area.

She said she had to go to the bank. It was around 10:30am and unable to find any vehicle, she started walking towards her destination, wading through filthy water overflowing from roadside drain.

On KB Aman Ali Road, Sudhir Dutta was facing a different problem. Water entered his photo studio and he was trying to scoop it out. "This has become a common issue. Every time it rains, we suffer," he said.

He expressed his frustration at the indifference of the authorities concerned in addressing the issue.

At Prabartak intersection, Jamir Uddin was trying to push his rickshaw towards high ground as one of its wheels got broken after hitting something underneath water.

"I'm carrying my rickshaw to the garage… I'm done for the day," he said.

Contacted, Khorshed Alam Sujan, the newly-appointed administrator of Chattogram City Corporation, said he visited some low-lying areas during rain yesterday.

"I have noticed waterlogging in some areas and instructed our staff to clean the drains in no time," he said. "I won't spare anyone if it is found that residents had to suffer due to negligence by any staff."

"We are working to address the waterlogging issue. Hopefully, people will see the results next year," he said.