Rain halts city life, traffic
FE Report | Monday, 18 February 2019
The city experienced a long spell of downpour on Sunday morning that disrupted traffic in many parts of the capital.
The rainstorm also affected the country's national book fair, known as Amar Ekushey Boimela, in the city on the day.
It also caused dislocation of many devotees, taking part in the second phase of the Bishwa Ijtema, the holly congregation of Tablig Jamat, which started from Sunday morning at Tongi off the city.
The Met Office recorded a 27 millimetre (mm) rainfall in Dhaka between 6.00 am and 1.00 pm on Sunday. The rain inundated many lanes and key link-roads in areas like Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Farmgate, Green Road, Gendaria, Laxmibazar, Tantibazar, Postogola and Bangshal etc in the morning.
Apart from Dhaka, Khulna, Sylhet, Cumilla, Kishoreganj, Kushtia and Rajshahi also witnessed notable rainfall.
The Met Office in its 24-hour forecast, said rain or thundershower accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at a few places over Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions.
Rain might also occur at one or two places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal and Mymensingh divisions also, it added.
Meteorologist Md Omor Faruque told the FE that the rain is the result of interaction between a westerly low and an easterly low on West Bengal and adjoining areas.
He said rain might occur in many places across the country today (Monday), but the weather is expected to be normal from Tuesday.
On Sunday, the morning rain came as a massive blow to the city dwellers, as they remained stuck in gridlock for hours amid rainwater while going to their respective destinations and workplaces.
Students and their parents wade through stagnated water on the streets on way to their institutions.
Buses, cars and three-wheelers haphazardly inched forward in different parts of the capital from 8.00 am to 11.00 am.
The sufferings of the commuters worsened due to the ongoing road digging works by different utility service providers in various parts of the city.
Ashraful Islam, a private sector banker living in Mirpur-12 area, said he could not reach his office at Newmarket in time due to the traffic jam.
"It took more than three hours to reach my office on the day, while I experienced knee-deep water on the roads," he added.