Heavy rain paralyses life in Chattogram; shelter centres open

Heavy rain continued in Chattogram since this morning for the fourth consecutive day, disrupting the day-to-day activities of residents.

The office-goers, students and others who came out for essential tasks faced difficulties due to the persistent rainfall.

Several areas, including GEC, Katalganj, and Oxygen mor, went under water during the downpour.

Photo: Rajib Raihan

Vehicular movement came to a standstill in those areas amid waterlogging. However, according to locals, the accumulated water receded quickly once the rain stopped.

Anjuman-ara-Begum, who was on way to attend to her mother-in-law at a hospital in the Panchlaish area, said she was travelling in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw. But when the vehicle reached Katalganj, it had to turn back as the road was submerged.

"I had to reach to the hospital through another road by a journey of extra two kilometres," she said, adding, "However, water receded from the road when I was returning from the hospital after around an hour."

Photo: Rajib Raihan

Chattogram Divisional Weather Office recorded 136.6 millimetres of rainfall in the 24 hours till 9:00am today, said meteorologist Mahmudul Alam.

He said the heavy rain was caused by an active monsoon and a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal. The rainfall, which has continued for the past four days, is likely to persist for two more days.

Due to the continuous downpour, the weather office has warned of possible landslides in the hilly areas, and the local administration has been put on alert.

Meanwhile, the district administration has started making public announcements and opened shelters in landslide-prone areas, urging residents near the hills to move to safer places.

Farida Khanam, deputy commissioner of Chattogram, visited No1 Jhil Pahar at Akbar Shah area yesterday afternoon.

Fahmun Nabi, executive magistrate and staff officer to the DC at Chattogram District Administration, said that the DC distributed food among 150 people who took shelter at centres in Akbar Shah area.

Public announcements continued today as well, he said.