Downpour triggers waterlogging in city

Toiling masses in a fix


FE REPORT | Published: September 16, 2024 00:00:45


Heavy rainfall lashed the city throughout the day on Sunday, nearly crippling the city life. The photo shows a rickshawpuller navigating through the rain in Sutrapur area, with his passenger holding an umbrella in an effort to protect them from the downpour. — FE photo by Shafiqul Alam


Heavy downpour under the influence of a deep depression over Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining areas caused serious waterlogging in some major parts of the city on Sunday, leaving the toiling masses in a fix.
A large number of people got stuck in the morning office and school hours as downpour started in the early morning and continued until night with almost no break.
Working class people, roadside small shop owners and rickshaw-pullers mostly bore the brunt of it.
Meanwhile, due to poor drainage system, rain waters could not come out from the roads to the nearby waterbodies and rivers, a common woe the city people mostly face during the rainy season.
Consequently, city residents underwent sufferings for waterlogging on the roads in Mirpur, Dhanmondi, Paltan, Shantinagar and Khilgaon areas.
The Met office recorded 32 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours (since 6pm). Patuakhali received the highest rainfall of 223 mm.
Maritime ports of Bangladesh have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal no. 3.
The Met office on Sunday said in its weather forecast valid for 72 hours commencing 9:00 am of September 15 that the land deep depression over Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining area persists is likely to move west-northwestwards and weaken gradually.
Monsoon is active over Bangladesh and strong over North Bay, it added.
The axis of monsoon trough runs through Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, center of the land deep depression to Assam across central part of Bangladesh.
The forecast valid for 24 hours commencing 9:00 am of September 15 said that light to moderate rain/thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at most places over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal and Mymensingh divisions and at many places over Rangpur, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy rainfalls at places over the country.
However, the trend of rain will reduce from tomorrow, said the Meteorological Department.
The weather then may continue in the next 48 hours with gradually low rainfalls. Day and night temperature may rise by (1-2)°C over the next two days, the forecast added.
Windstorm force winds may blow over Bangladesh's coastal areas, North Bay of Bengal and sea ports. Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra sea ports have been asked to show local warning signal number 3.
Also fishing boats and trawlers stationed in North Bay of Bengal have been asked to remain in safe harbour till further notices.
The forecast for the inland river ports till 1:00 pm on Sunday said South or Southeast over Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogra, Tangail, Dhaka, Faridpur, Jessore, Kushtia, Khulna, Barisal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Comilla, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar regions.
There may be rain or thundershower with gusty or gale force winds at 45 to 60 km per hour from the direction. The river ports in these areas have been asked to display warning signal number 1.

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