Depression in Bay: Nonstop rain cripples life

Unremitting rain, triggered by a depression in the Bay, drenched the entire country yesterday, flooding many streets and neighbourhoods of the capital and disrupting communications in different parts of the country.

The met office yesterday recorded 76mm of rainfall in Dhaka between 6:00am and 6:00pm. The highest 96mm rainfall was in Noakhali's Hatiya.

Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra hoisted cautionary sign no three as the depression formed in the Bay, according to the met office.

The rain is likely to continue today and the weather will not improve before tomorrow, officials said.

Met forecasts light to moderate rain and thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind at most places over Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Chittagong, Rangpur and Sylhet divisions today.

The ceaseless deluge that started Thursday night flooded much of the capital by yesterday afternoon.

People who dared leaving home on the weekend, waded through flooded streets or paid additional fares for transport.

A number of major thoroughfares as well as lanes and by-lanes were inundated as the drains got clogged with rubbish deposited by water.

Mamunur Rashid, who lives in Jatrabari, said he had to wade through knee-deep water to go to Jatrabari intersection.

"I was completely drenched in the rain and my umbrella could not withstand the wind.”

Bitheeka Nipty had a similar experience. A resident of Siddheshwari, she also had to walk on flooded streets to Mouchak yesterday afternoon.

"Whenever it rains, the lanes and allies of Siddheshwari go under water and today the area turned into a swamp. I do not understand what our utility service providers do."

Many vehicles, especially CNG-run three-wheelers broke on flooded streets, adding to people's sufferings.

Anwar Hossain, a resident of Shankar, said, "The CNG-run three-wheeler that was taking me to Gulshan stalled on the flooded Dhanmondi 27."

He said he had to find another vehicle.

A resident of Lalmatia, said a bus full of passengers broke on Dhanmondi-27.  Passengers got down in the rain and waded through knee-deep water.

BUS AND FERRY SERVICES DISRUPTED

Shimulia-Kathalbari ferry services were suspended, causing tailbacks on highways on both sides of the Padma river.

Launches and speedboats services in Mawa-Kawrakandi also remained suspended. Over 500 vehicles were stranded at Shimulia.

Khandakar Shah Newaz, assistant managing director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation, said only six ferries operated till 4:00pm.

"As the intensity of rain and wind velocity increased due to the depression, we suspended all types of services around 4:30pm."