Record Rainfall in Chattogram,City Submerged
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Chattogram has been devastated by continuous heavy rainfall caused by monsoon winds and a low-pressure system formed over the Bay of Bengal. A record 386.8 millimeters of rainfall has been recorded this season.
This has caused waterlogging across vast areas of the city, raised fears of flooding in five districts, increased the risk of landslides, and prompted the weather department to ask Chattogram seaport to keep displaying local warning signal number 3. Due to the disastrous situation, most educational institutions have postponed their mid-year examinations.
As of 12 noon today, Tuesday, the Patenga station of the Meteorological Department recorded 386.8 millimeters of rainfall in the previous 24 hours.
The agency has forecasted that heavy to very heavy rainfall may continue for the next few days due to the influence of the low-pressure system and monsoon winds.
Due to continuous rainfall, knee-to-waist-deep water has accumulated on various roads across the city including Agrabad, Panchlaish, Katalganj, Kapasgola, Chawkbazar, Badurtola, Bakalia, Chandgaon, Moulvi pukur para, CDA residential area, No. 2 Gate, K and L blocks of Halishahar, Rampur, Battali Road, and C&N areas. Water has also entered many homes and shops.
Traffic was halted on Ishan Mahajan Road after a large tree fell. In the Patenga area, a section of the CB road has collapsed due to excessive rainfall.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Center has reported that in the next 24 to 72 hours, water levels in the Gumti, Muhuri, Feni, Sangu, Halda, Sangu, and Matamuhuri rivers may cross danger levels at several points. This raises the possibility of short-term flooding in low-lying areas of Chattogram , Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Khagrachhari, and Feni. Additionally, some low-lying areas of Noakhali and Lakshmipur may also be temporarily inundated.
The risk of landslides has also increased due to heavy rainfall. The district administration and the Department of Environment are warning residents of vulnerable hill areas through loudspeaker announcements to move to safer locations.
Due to pressure differences caused by the low-pressure system making the sea rough, the weather department has asked the Chattogram , Cox's Bazar, Mongla, and Payra seaports to keep displaying local warning signal number 3. Fishing boats and trawlers have been instructed to navigate carefully near the coast.
Due to adverse weather conditions, mid-year examinations have been suspended at 48 secondary schools and six kindergartens under the Chattogram City Corporation, as well as at most government and private educational institutions in the city. Sir Maurice Brown International School and Phulki Sohoj Path Bidyalay have also postponed their exams.
Bishwajit Chowdhury, the duty meteorologist at Patenga Weather Office, stated that there is a possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours as well. This brings risks of waterlogging, landslides, and flash floods.
