Heavy rain in Ctg: Thousands urged to leave risky hill slopes

Fearing landslides amid incessant rainfall, the Chattogram district administration on Thursday urged residents living on hill slopes to take shelter in safer places immediately.

"Using loudspeakers, we asked the people to leave risky hilly areas to avert casualties from possible landslides," said Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Mohammad Elias Hossain.

A district administration is closely monitoring the issue, he added.

The Chattogram Met office issued a warning of heavy rainfall in the hilly regions, that may trigger landslide.

From 6am to 2pm, the Met office recorded 94.4mm rainfall. Downpour is likely to continue for next two days.

The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal No 3 as squally weather is likely to hit the coastal areas of Bangladesh.

City people suffer for waterlogging

People in Chattogram city have been suffering as many parts of the port city were waterlogged because of light to moderate rainfall since Thursday morning.

Commuters, office-goers and students in particular, were the worst sufferers.

Amid an acute shortage of public transport, they got to their destinations after long painful hours on roads. City life almost came to a halt as most of the roads of low-lying areas went under knee to waist deep water following the heavy rain at noon.

However, water receded from the areas by 3pm.

City commuters suffered a lot while travelling through Bahaddarhat, Muradpur, Gate No 2, GEC circle, WASA Circle and Lalkhan Bazar, Agrabad, Halishahar, Patenga, Chandagaon, Bakalia and Chawkbazar roads.

Flash flood added to the waterlogging when tidal water entered many low-lying areas, including Halishahar, Agrabad, Kattoli, Bandartila, Goshaildanga, Saltgola Crossing, Chaktai, Khatunganj, Patanga and Bandar.

Cargo handling disrupted at Ctg port

Heavy rain disrupted loading and unloading of goods at outer-anchorage of Chattogram port.

But the operation at the port jetties was normal.

"Because of heavy rain, we have not been able to send lighter vessels to load and unload goods at the outer anchorage of the port since Thursday morning," said Ataul Kabir Talukder Ranju, deputy secretary (operation) of Water Transport Cell (WTC).