Heavy monsoon rains over the last few days have paralysed the Chattogram region, inundating vast areas, disrupting transport and academic activities, and leaving people stranded and marooned.
At least 23 people died and many others were injured in the region in separate rain-related incidents, including landslides and wall collapses, over the last three days.
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Thirteen of the victims, including nine children, were Rohingyas killed in landslides in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps on Monday and yesterday.
The highest rainfall in the 24 hours until 6:00pm yesterday was recorded in Chattogram’s Ambagan area, where 277mm of rain fell, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
Biswajit Chowdhury, assistant forecasting officer at the Chattogram Met Office, said an active monsoon and a low over the Bay were causing the heavy rainfall.
The current spell of rain is likely to continue until Friday, he told The Daily Star yesterday.
Due to the low, the Met Office advised maritime ports, including Chattogram, to keep local cautionary signal No. 3 hoisted.
In Chattogram city, knee- to waist-deep water submerged major roads and low-lying neighbourhoods yesterday, including Katalganj, Chawkbazar, KB Aman Ali Road in West Bakalia, Agrabad, Halishahar, Bara Dighir Par on Hathazari Road, Kapasgola, and the Oxygen-Madunaghat Road.
The downpour severely disrupted public transport, leaving commuters stranded.
“I have been waiting for 20 minutes but cannot find a rickshaw,” said Anwar Hossain standing in floodwater in Katalganj.
Rainwater entered the ground floors of homes, shops, and commercial establishments on Monday night, forcing many businesses to remain closed.
Outside the city, three days of continuous rains and runoff from the hills flooded 16 unions in Anwara and Karnaphuli upazilas, leaving thousands stranded.
Strong winds and heavy rain also damaged power infrastructure in Anwara, causing prolonged outages in many areas.
“I cannot prepare properly for my exams because of the prolonged powercuts,” said Aklima Sharmin, an HSC examinee of Anwara.
Anwara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohin Uddin said technicians were working round the clock to restore power, while emergency shelters have been kept ready.
The HSC exams under the Chattogram board scheduled for yesterday were postponed.
The University of Chittagong also suspended all classes and tests for the day, while many primary and secondary schools declared unscheduled holidays.
Meanwhile, all train services on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar railway line have remained suspended indefinitely since Tuesday afternoon after floodwaters completely submerged sections of the tracks in Chattogram’s Muradpur area.
The incessant rain has also heightened the risk of landslides in hilly parts of the region, triggering panic among residents living at the foothills of the Deang Pahar and in informal settlements along vulnerable slopes.
The district administration has stepped up monitoring of landslide-prone areas and used loudspeakers to urge residents living on risky areas to move to designated shelters.
In Bandarban, continuous rains over the last four days, coupled with hill runoff from upstream, has pushed water levels in the Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers above the danger mark. Low-lying areas across the district have been inundated.
Floodwaters have submerged homes, roads, and cropland in Bandarban municipality and several upazilas.
According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board, the Sangu was flowing at 96cm above the danger level and the Matamuhuri at 14cm yesterday morning.
The district administration has prepared 220 emergency shelters across Bandarban’s seven upazilas.
Flooding has also disrupted road communication between Bandarban town and Thanchi, Ruma, and Rowangchhari upazilas after several sections of the roads went under water. People were seen using boats to cross inundated stretches.
The rain has also heightened the risk of landslides there. Authorities have used loudspeakers to urge residents living on hill slopes and in other vulnerable areas to move to safer locations and advised people to avoid unnecessary river crossings until conditions improve.
The district administration in a notice extended the closure of all tourist attractions across the hill district until July 12, citing continued heavy rain and safety concerns.
In Rangamati, around 600 tourists were stranded in Sajek Valley of Baghaichhari upazila after heavy rains submerged sections of the Sajek-Baghaihat road.
Suparna Deb Barman, president of the Sajek Resort and Cottage Owners’ Association, said the stranded tourists would not be charged extra and would only have to pay for food and other necessary services.
[Our correspondents in Chattogram, Bandarban and Rangamati contributed to the report]
