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Chattogram recorded 330.8mm of rainfall in the 24 hours until 9:00am on Tuesday, triggering waterlogging in several parts of the port city as high tide compounded the impact of the downpour.
Rain that began on Sunday morning intensified into very heavy rainfall on Monday, continuing throughout the day and overnight. The rain persisted on Tuesday morning.
According to the Patenga Meteorological Office, 330.8mm of rainfall was recorded in the 24-hour period ending at 9:00am on Tuesday.
The heavy rain inundated several areas, including Agrabad Commercial Area, CDA Residential Area, Katalganj, Panchlaish, Kapasgola, Chawkbazar, Halishahar K and L Blocks, Rampur, Tin Poler Matha and Batali Road.
Waterlogging caused widespread disruption to daily life, with many residents facing difficulties commuting. Very few vehicles, apart from rickshaws, were seen on the city’s roads. Several schools also suspended classes and examinations due to the adverse weather.
During a visit to Katalganj on Tuesday morning to inspect the waterlogged areas, Chattogram City Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain said heavy rainfall had continued for nearly 48 hours.
“I toured the city yesterday. About 30% of the work on the Hijra Canal remains unfinished. The embankments have been opened because of the monsoon, and the remaining work will be completed later,” he said.
The mayor said there was no waterlogging in Probortok Mor, Bahaddarhat, Muradpur and Bakalia on Tuesday. However, some work remains unfinished on the Gulzar Canal in Agrabad.
“Once the work is completed, we hope waterlogging in that area will no longer occur,” he said.
He also said two to three large trees had fallen in the Lalkhan Bazar area due to the heavy rain, while part of the road leading to the airport had collapsed.
Pranab Kumar Sharma, deputy chief conservancy officer of the Chattogram City Corporation, said the city experienced exceptionally heavy rainfall overnight, which coincided with the morning high tide.
“The drainage system does not have the capacity to carry such a large volume of water. We have been working throughout the night, particularly in the Agrabad Commercial Area, to ensure floodwater drains away as quickly as possible,” he said.
In previous years, more than 100mm of rainfall was often enough to cause waterlogging in Chattogram. Similar flooding occurred in late April this year in areas including Probortok Mor, Chattogram Medical College Hospital, Panchlaish Residential Area, GEC, Muradpur, Rahmatganj and Sirajuddoula Road.
Following public criticism, the authorities decided to remove embankments built on the Hijra and Jamal Khan canals. The embankments were dismantled in May, and renovation work on the two canals was suspended for the current monsoon season.
