A city submerged: Two rickshaws inching through a submerged road carrying passengers in the city’s Arambagh area on Friday morning as downpour caused waterlogging in different areas of the capital — FE Photo by Shafiqul Alam Season's heaviest monsoon rain deluged Dhaka as the heavens opened over the capital on Friday morning, with streets getting waterlogged and weekend commuters facing immense difficulties.
It began to rain early in the morning and continued unabated until around 1:30 pm, creating a chaotic scene across the city as many motor-vehicles took in water and went phut, witnesses said.
Torrential rain flooded streets in various areas of the capital. Since yesterday was Friday, a weekend holiday, most students and office-goers did not need to leave their homes. However, those who ventured out for livelihood and other unavoidable reasons got into abject suffering.
As it was a weekend holiday, many said they enjoyed the rainy day that came after long spells of hot and humid weather. However, people of lower strata of society who depend on daily earnings suffered immeasurably.
From 6:00am to 12:00pm, Dhaka had experienced 130mm of rain over six hours, according to met bulletin.
Md. Bazlur Rashid, Meteorologist at Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), says this is the highest amount of rainfall in a single day in the capital during this monsoon season under normal conditions.
He also mentions that during the Cyclone Remal on May 27, the capital saw the highest amount of rainfall in a single day, measuring 224 millimetres. "However, this was not normal seasonal rain but was due to the impact of the cyclone."
Sandwip in the bosom of the Bay of Bengal received the highest 188mm rain from 6am to 6pm while Dhaka recorded 131mm fall during the period, he stated.
In its 24-hour bulletin commencing 6pm, the met office has said light to moderate rain/thundershower accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at most places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at many places over Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna and Barishal divisions with moderately heavy to very-heavy falls at places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions.
On the waterlogged streets vehicles were moving slowly in many areas, and in some places, traffic came to a complete standstill, witnesses said.
The water stagnation caused a standstill throughout the metropolis, severely affecting daily life. The city-dwellers were experiencing significant hardship.
In a notification, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) stated that Fakirapool, Nayapaltan, Baitul Mukarram, Topkhana Road, Matsya Bhaban, Karwan Bazar, Shantinagar, Malibagh Mor, Arambagh, Pragati Sarani, New Market, Dhanmondi's Rapa Plaza, Mirpur's Rokeya Sarani, Old Dhaka's Dayaganj Mor, Bangshal, and Nimtali's Toyenbee Circular Road were all submerged under rainwater.
Due to a dysfunctional drainage system, key areas such as Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Kakrail, Mouchak, Malibagh, Shantinagar, Farmgate, Badda, Moghbazar, Mirpur, and Khilkhet were severely affected, with many residents seen wading through ankle-deep water to their destinations.
People who took part in Jumah (Friday) prayer also faced enormous suffering to reach their nearby mosque due to the water-logging.
"Private vehicles and CNG-run autorickshaws struggled to navigate the flooded streets, often resulting in engine damage and breakdowns," says many a firsthand account.
Many shops and houses in different areas in the city were inundated too.
The downpour also led to a notable reduction in public transport, complicating the journey for examinees and their guardians. In most areas in the city, such as Muhammadpur, Dhanmondi, Motijheel, Malibagh, Shantinagar, and Moghbazar, waterlogging made it particularly challenging for commuters.
Taking advantage of the exigent situation, rickshaw-pullers charged higher fares than usual, adding to the commuters' woes.
Early-morning shoppers, travelers heading home for vacations, and morning joggers were also among the worst affected by the relentless rain and subsequent waterlogging.
Joynal Abedin Khan, a journalist based in Dhaka who resides in the city's Maniknagar area, informed the FE that he was scheduled to attend an event in Niketan area at 9am. However, he arrived at 11:30am after having to change two CNG-run autorickshaws during his journey.
Alam expressed frustration over the inadequate drainage system, noting that the city is becoming "increasingly unliveable, with even light rain causing significant flooding in low-lying areas". He urges the authorities to address the issue promptly.
Mahidul Islam, a rickshaw-puller, told the FE that he had to struggle to pull the paddle on the submerged road and so he claimed additional fare.
While he was talking to the reporter, another rickshaw, carrying no passenger, overturned in the Abul Hotel area of the submerged road to Rampura.
Shop-owners were also faced with a difficult day in terms of sales as they hardly welcome customers due to the heavy rain at the weekend.
Md Mohosin Mia, a worker of a restaurant, was trying to drain rainwater from his swamped restaurant on the opposite side of the Rajarbagh Police Lines.
Talking to the FE correspondent he said, "People have to cross the knee-high water in front of our restaurant. Only rickshaws are available to cross the road. Poor drainage makes the situation worse."
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