Only 1.5hrs rain drowns Khulna
Moderate rain inundated around two-thirds of Khulna city yesterday, causing immense sufferings to residents.
According to the met office, 39 mm rainfall was recorded in the city. Amirul Azad, senior meteorological officer, said the rain started at 12:30pm and ended at 2:00pm.
Locals and development activists said encroachment of waterbodies in and around the city and poor drainage system caused such waterlogging. Meanwhile, residents alleged that the sufferings of around 1.7 million people living in the 45.65-square-kilometre area, under 31 wards, are persisting due to indifference of the authorities concerned.
According to Khulna City Corporation, total length of the city's drainage network is 651.50 km. Of it, 291.23 km is made of concrete, 55 km half concrete and 305 km earthen.
While visiting many areas yesterday, including Daulatpur, Pabla, Boyra, Rupsha Stand Road, KDA Avenue, Iqbalnagar, Tutpara, Gallamari, Moilapota, Dakbangla, Santhidham Mor, Phulmarket and Press Club, this correspondent found most of the roads under ankle- to knee-deep water.
Slum dwellers and residents of low-lying Bastuhara, South Pabla, Dayana and Boyra areas were the worst sufferers. Many kitchen markets -- including Sheikhpara, Bastuhara and Boikali -- went under water.
Vehicles were found stranded on waterlogged roads. Habibur Rahman, a resident of Bastuhara, said, "Most of the drains in our area are not properly cleaned."
Imran Sheikh from Boyra residential area said their area got waterlogged just 10 to 15 minutes after the rain began.
Anisur Rahman, conservancy officer of KCC, said KCC regularly cleans drains to ensure proper water flow. The cleaning drive for all 2,187 drains is sometimes interrupted due to manpower shortage.
Sheikh Ashrafuzzaman, secretary general of Greater Khulna Unnayan Sangram Committee, said, "The drains and canals have lost navigability and water flow due to encroachment and garbage dumping."
Contacted, Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque said during high tides in Bhairab and Rupsha around the city, the sewers cannot properly drain water to the rivers. "We have taken steps to repair and construct drains and excavate 22 canals at a cost of Tk 823 crore," he said.