Heavy rain on Tuesday caused severe water stagnation in different areas of Chattogram city, submerging many roads under waist-to-chest-deep water and causing immense suffering to city dwellers.

Beginning at about 11:00am the rain gradually intensified to continue non-stop till about 2:30pm and then went on intermittently till the evening, leaving the city’s many thoroughfares immersed in water.

Roads in Prabartak crossing, Muradpur, Katalganj, Rahmatganj, Chawkbazar, Agrabad and Rahattar Pul went under water, while in many areas, overflowing drains pushed water onto roads and into houses.

Vehicular movement came to a halt in several low-lying areas as water rose up to chest level with many vehicles seen broken down in the middle of roads, while office-goers, students and day labourers faced serious difficulties in reaching destinations.

Locals said that traffic on the roads in Prabartak and Muradpur areas halted from about 2:30pm as the areas went under waist-to-chest-deep water.

Residents said that the situation deteriorated quickly just after a short spell of rain and the suffering mounted as the water did not recede.

Samiul Hoque, a resident of Kazir Dewri area was going to Chattogram Medical College Hospital when he got stuck in water before reaching Prabartak crossing.

‘There are many important establishments, including medical college hospital, clinics and diagnostic centres in this area,’ he said, adding, ‘this road repeatedly goes under water.’

Mamunul Islam, a resident of Rahattar Pul area, said that such water stagnation in the city was usually seen after three to four days of continuous rain.

‘Now we are experiencing severe water stagnation with just an hour of rain,’ he said.

Local people said that one of the major reasons for the increasing water stagnation in the port city is the lack of maintenance and conservation of the canal network crisscrossing the city, one of which is Hijra Canal flowing along the Prabartak area.

They said that the expansion work of Hijra Canal was going on at one side of the road in Prabartak area, while a temporary dam had been placed at the mouth of the canal, preventing any water flow to run into it.

The situation gets worse whenever there is a downpour over a vast area, including Chawkbazar-Muradpur road, Panchlaish area and Katalganj Residential Area, which the canal had gone through.

Chattogram city mayor Shahadat Hossain visited Prabartak crossing and Chattogram Medical College Hospital area in the afternoon to inspect the situation.

‘I have already visited Bahaddarhat, Muradpur, Gosaidanga, CDA, Agrabad, Chawkbazar and Fultali before coming here,’ the mayor told reporters, adding that he was monitoring the situation.

‘A massive work is going on. Last year, we were able to reduce water stagnation during the monsoon. If the work on Hijra canal can be completed by May 15, we will be able to reduce water stagnation,’ he said.

The mayor said that the Bangladesh Army’s 34 Construction Brigade was carrying out work on Hijra Canal in Prabartak and surrounding areas.

‘Under a Chattogram Development Authority project, work on Hijra Canal, Jamalkhan Canal and the Muradpur portion has not yet been completed,’ he added.

Patenga Meteorological Office assistant meteorologist Bishwajit Chowdhury said that six millimetres of rainfall was recorded in Chattogram in the past 24 hours until 8:00am Tuesday.

‘There is a possibility of moderate to heavy rainfall in the next four days. There are also risks of waterlogging and landslides in Chattogram,’ he said.

He also said that the local cautionary signal No 3 had been hoisted at Chattogram seaport.

According to a Chattogram Development Authority plan, the development work of 36 canals running through the city began in June 2017 to address the city’s water stagnation problem. The project is scheduled to end in June this year.