RANGPUR, Aug 22: Sufferings of the people have mounted as normal activities came to a halt in Rangpur city and its adjacent areas on account of torrential rainfall during last few days.
Heavy downpour has submerged several low- lying areas of the city and its neighbouring areas. The situation has made the lives of thousands of people miserable as most of the low- lying areas have become badly waterlogged due to incessant rainfall.
Poor maintenance of the canals and drains some of which were narrowed owing to land grabbing have further aggravated situation, locals alleged.
Though torrential rainfall has created serious disruption in normal life, the people in general heaved a sigh of relief as season's maiden heavy shower came as a blessing ending days of hot spell.
Local Met office recorded around 450 mm rainfall during last three days.
Rainwater remains stagnant creating water-logging in these areas during the rainy season almost every year for lack of proper drainage, locals said.
According to sources many city areas went under 2- 4 feet deep water due to heavy rainfall and residences and business establishments in some low laying areas were submerged with rainwater mounting sufferings of the people manifolds.
The affected people are suffering a lot as their houses are now under knee-deep water specially office going people school going students are the worst sufferers.
The most affected areas include, New Jummapara, Kukrul, Honumantala, Khamar, Nurpur, Ganeshpur, Guratipara, Babukhan, New Shalbon, Khasbag, Kamal Kachna, Kherbari etc where most of the houses went 2-4 feet under water.
Transport problems caused untold sufferings particularly to the office goers and students. Rickshaw pullers and three wheelers were seen demanding excess fare from the commuters taking advantages of the bad weather and thin traffic.
There is serious disruption in normal public life as well as all sorts of business activities due to incessant raining that caused heavy water logging in many parts of the city.
Meanwhile, hundreds of thatched houses in the affected areas have been damaged while standing crops including vegetables on vast areas were submerged. Fishes from different water bodies have also been washed away due to heavy downpour.
On the other hand, prices of vegetables have marked a sharp rise in the city as vegetables supply has decreased drastically for the last few days in markets due to massive damage caused by heavy rainfall.
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