Hours of downpour leave Chattogram neighbourhoods waterlogged

Several key roads in Chattogram have been inundated after a spell of moderate to heavy rainfall, bringing traffic to a crawl and forcing pedestrians to wade through knee-deep water.

Torrential rain began around 4:45pm on Saturday and continued intermittently until 9pm, causing water to pool up in key locations such as GEC intersection, WASA intersection, and Katalganj.

The Patenga Meteorological Office recorded 82.8mm of rainfall in 24 hours to 6pm Saturday -- classified as heavy under standard rainfall categories in Bangladesh.

Officials warn that rains may continue for another two to three days.

The downpour followed a record 229mm of rainfall logged in the previous 24 hours to 6pm on Friday -- the highest of the monsoon season -- although the city saw no waterlogging that day.

Met Office’s Md Ismail Bhuiyan said the rain was now being driven by active monsoon winds, which typically enter Chattogram around Jun 1 or 2.

This year, they arrived early on May 24, followed by a low-pressure system that has now cleared.

Waterlogging remains a chronic problem for the city. An ongoing Tk 86.26 billion drainage project, the largest of its kind, is being implemented by the Chattogram Development Authority across 36 canals.

The Army’s 34 Engineer Construction Brigade is carrying out the physical work.

The city corporation also began clearing drains earlier this year.

Mayor Shahadat Hossain, however, has repeatedly expressed frustration over the limited funds and delays in obtaining approval for equipment purchases.