School-level half-yearly exams in four coastal upazilas of Noakhali district have been halted as the district is facing severe disruption due to continuous heavy rainfall which threatens a fear of flash flood.
This heavy rainfall has submerged most roads and alleys with water entering many homes. Adding to the concern, rising water levels in Feni's Muhuri River are leading locals to fear a threat of flooding.
The district recorded a significant 199 millimetres of rainfall in the last 24 hours, according to Md. Rafiqul Islam, the acting officer of the District Meteorological Office.
He also warned that more heavy rain is anticipated due to active monsoon winds. As a result, the Meteorological Department has issued local warning signal number 1 for river ports and number 3 for seaports. The adverse weather has prompted the postponement of all school-level half-yearly exams in four coastal upazilas of the district: Sadar, Subarnachar, Kabirhat and Companiganj.
District Education Officer Nur Uddin Jahangir confirmed that exams scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday have been suspended as persistent rain has left many schools inundated and their access roads submerged.
The Water Development Board reported a 17-centimetre increase in water levels across the district in just one day though the water currently remains 1 centimetre below the danger mark.
The most severe waterlogging is concentrated in Noakhali Sadar, Companiganj, Kabirhat and Subarnachar. The district capital, Maijdee is particularly affected with many roads and neighbourhoods cut off. Areas like Maijdee Housing Estate, Stadium Para and Fakirpur have knee-deep water on their roads and ground-floor and temporary homes are inundated, leaving residents stranded.
Adding to the woes, numerous manholes on city roads have turned them into hazardous traps this monsoon season.
Locals attribute the widespread waterlogging to an inadequate drainage system and the filling of canals and water bodies, pointing fingers at the authorities' perceived indifference.
Similar severe waterlogging has been reported in Companiganj's Basurhat Municipality, including Karalia and areas around Moudud School, College Gate, and Hospital Gate as well as in Begumganj, Kabirhat, Subarnachar, and Senbagh upazilas.
While the administration is working to address the situation, conscious citizens emphasised the need for greater awareness and participation from local residents to resolve the waterlogging crisis effectively.
Noakhali District Administrator Khondaker Istiaque Ahmed said that he has personally visited affected areas and a meeting of the disaster management committee is underway to tackle the unfolding situation.
