Chattogram submerged in three hours of rain
Chattogram Development Authority is implementing a Tk5,616 crore project to alleviate waterlogging in the port city
A vast area of the port city, Chattogram, has been submerged in three hours of heavy thunderstorms.
Heavy rainfall started after 8:30am on Sunday which continued till 12:00am.
Forecasting Officer of Chattogram Meteorological Office Shahidul Islam said, "In the previous 24 hours till 12:00am, 75.4mm of rain was recorded due to the monsoon. Downpours are still continuing. In the next 24 to 48 hours, the pre-monsoon heavy rainfall may continue with intervals."
Meanwhile, low lying areas of the city including Chawkbazar, Bakalia, Shulakbahar, Agrabad, Halishahar, Muradpur, Bahaddarhat, Kapasgola, Probartak intersection, KB Aman Ali Road, DC Road, Chandgaon, Sholashahar Gate No-2, Mayor's Lane, Agrabad Access Road, Nasirabad and Dewanbazar have gone underwater since 10:00am. Water has seeped into many houses.
Mohammad Hossain, a resident of Chandgaon residential area, said, "The authorities have constructed an embankment on the canal as part of waterlogging alleviation project. Now residents of the area face problems whenever it rains. We do not understand why the authorities are not doing anything but making promises."
The Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) is implementing a Tk5,616 crore project to alleviate waterlogging in the port city. It is being implemented by 34 Engineer Construction Brigade of Bangladesh Army. Under this project, embankments and retaining walls are being constructed at the mouths of canals. Moreover, temporary dams have been constructed in different parts of the canal. Due to these dams, the city dwellers are suffering from waterlogging whenever there is heavy rainfall.
However, officials of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) claimed that their workers are working tirelessly to keep the drains clean so that the water goes down quickly.
They said due to heavy rains during high tide, water has accumulated in low-lying areas. The water will go down quickly.
Executive Magistrate of CCC Omar Faruq said the CCC has prepared medical teams, adequate medicine, dry food and drinking water for the post-disaster period.
The CCC has opened a control room to provide any emergency services to the city dwellers. The phone numbers of the control room are 031-630739 and 031-633649.