Roanu leaves port city with Tk 209cr damage

It has been almost a week since Cyclone Roanu hit the country and left a trail of devastation in its wake, causing a damage of about Tk 209 crore in the port city, according to Chittagong City Corporation.

Due to gusty wind and rainfall as well as tidal water, different roads, culverts, drains, footpaths and lights-poles-wires got damaged in different city areas, said CCC sources.

Around 90km paved, unpaved and brick made roads were damaged, they said, adding, the extent of the damage is about Tk 162.50 crore.

Contacted, Lt Col Mohiuddin Ahamed, chief engineer of CCC, said most of the damages occurred in Bakalia and coastal areas like Uttar and Dakkhin Patenga. 

About 20km of footpaths, 17km of drains, five culverts/bridges, about 300 electric poles, 5,000 street lights and about 50km of electric wires got damaged, said CCC, adding, the amount of damage is about Tk 46.50 crore.  

The storm also knocked down homes and toppled hundreds of trees, they further said.

AKM Jafrul Islam, ward councillor of ward no-17 covering Paschim Bakalia, said the road damage under his ward occurred mostly because of rain and tidal water.

Airport Road in the naval area of Patenga after being visited by cyclone Roanu. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

“Potholes have developed in many roads like Dhumpara, Hadi Para and Housing Colony in Uttar Patenga areas,” said Md Joynal Abedin, councillor of ward no-40.

Roughly, the total damages caused by Roanu in CCC area would be Tk 209 crore, said the CCC chief engineer.      

A team of 150 people has been working to fix the damaged roads, he said, adding that hopefully, it will take about another week to complete the task.

“In order to renovate other damaged structures like culverts and drains permanently, we have to wait for the dry season,” said Lt Col Mohiuddin, adding, “Meantime, we'll repair and make them useable for the time being.”