Life in the capital Dhaka came to a grinding halt on Friday as almost all the roads and many areas in the city went under water following six hours of heavy shower.
The downpour added to the woes and desperate plights people already smarting from.
Starting from around 6:00am, the rain paralysed the capital and many parts of the country as main roads, thoroughfares, lanes and by-lanes went under knee to chest-deep water.
Sufferings of the city people knew no bounds as roads in many areas have been waterlogged due to incessant rain.
Dhaka Met office recorded 130 milimetres rainfall between 6:00am to 12:00pm.
Poor drainage system that had not been developed for years is the key reason for the waterlogging in the capital, many city dwellers said.
The authorities ‘only’ assure people of delivering better services through undertaking various projects. But those remain only perpetual promises and never to be materialised. The city people are yet to get rid of the waterlogging problem.
People blame the authorities concerned of the two city corporations for their misery as they turn a blind eye to addressing the problems.
A serious tailback was created on many roads in the capital as engine-driven vehicles went out of order, leaving the commuters stranded for hours.
Patients and relatives were the worst victims as they struggled to reach different hospitals, including Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
Describing the ordeal on roads, a youth, who was pushing his motorbike due to break-down of his bike, told reporters that he was going to DMCH to visit a pregnant patient.
“My sister-in-law was admitted to Dhaka Medical Hospital on early Friday. My friend told me to go to hospital with necessary documents. On my way, my bike broke down due to leakage of water in the engine,” he said.
Stinky water and sewage also entered the houses, offices and other establishments in the city.
Residents of many city areas said that sewage along with stinky water entered the first floor of their houses, compelling them to take shelter to upper floor of their houses.
Many traders were compelled to shut down their shops on the ground floors which went under knee-deep water.
Mahbubul Alam, a trader at Mahakhali told reporters that his shop stands on the road. “My shop has gone under chest-deep water. All kinds of goods have been damaged,” he said.
“We hear stories of development. But, water enters shops and houses even after mild to moderate shower,” he added.
Amid shower, rickshaw-pullers charged passenger exorbitant fair for carrying them through knee to chaste-deep water.
One of our correspondents living in Rajabazar area said that he had to pay Tk 60 just for 150-metre distance.
“The rickshaw-puller was asking for a high amount of money as the by-lane went under chest-deep water,” he said.
Many passengers, who went out on various purposes, alleged that they got wet by sitting on the top part of the rickshaw.
The Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said waterlogging caused long tailback while many vehicles went out of order following the leakage of water in the engines.
The traffic division in a release urged people to avoid Fakirerpul, Nayapaltan, Baitul Mukarram, Shantinagr, Malibagh, Arambagh, Pragati Sarani, New Market, Dhanmondi Rapa Plaza, Bongshal, Rokeya Sarani, Dayaganj, Sayedabad Bus Terminal, Nimtoli, Toyenabi Circle Road, Dhanmondi 27, Elephant Road, Matsya Bhaban, Karwan Bazar, Bijoy Sarani, Dhaka Gate VIP Road and Mirpur Mazar Road.
Meanwhile, several dozen teams under the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) were working to pump out water from the roads.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Friday forecast light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at most places over four divisions, at many places over other four divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy rain at places over the country in the next 24 hours from 9am this morning.
“Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at most places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, at many places over Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna and Barishal divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy rain at places over the country in the next 24 hours,” the Met Office forecast.