Highest rainfall in Chattogram in 42 years, crippling public life

Continuous heavy rainfall has practically turned Chattogram into a city of water. The Meteorological Department has recorded 412 millimeters of rainfall in the port city in the last 24 hours, which is the highest in the last 42 years. Earlier, on August 4, 1983, the highest rainfall in 24 hours was recorded at 511 millimeters. As a result, this time the rainfall is the second highest in the history of Chattogram, but the highest in more than four decades.
Assistant meteorologist at Patenga Meteorological Office, Suman Saha, said that 412 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in 24 hours from 3 pm on Monday to 3 pm on Tuesday.
The situation became more dire when the noon tide on Tuesday was added to the incessant rain. When the tide started at around 11:45 am, the water accumulated in the city canals could not flow into the river and the sea, causing rapid waterlogging in various areas. Although the sluice gates of the canal were opened later, a vast area was submerged by then.
The main road from the Halishahar residential area on the Port Connecting Road to Naya Bazar, the Bora Dighi Par on the Oxygen-Hathazari road, and the C&B and Moulvipukur Par areas on the Arakan road went under water. In addition, waterlogging disrupted public life in various areas including Agrabad commercial area, Katalganj, CDA residential area, Panchlaish, Kapasgola, Chawkbazar, Rampur, Batali Road, Custom House, Jamalkhan, Rahmatganj, Moulvipura, Kathgarh Muslimabad.
The waist-deep water accumulated in the Bora Dighi Par area on the Hathazari-Oxygen road. Locals were also seen fishing in the water accumulated on the main road by casting nets, which highlighted the severity of the situation.
The heavy rains also affected the communication system. The Cox's Bazar-bound Tourist Express carrying about 650 passengers was stranded in the afternoon due to water logging on the railway line in the Sholashahar area. On the other hand, a part of a bypass road collapsed in the Patenga area. Large and medium vehicles were seen plying the waterlogged roads with great risk.
The rain that started on Sunday morning did not stop until Tuesday afternoon. Even after 3 pm, the sky was covered with thick clouds, and around 3:30 pm, torrential rain began again. This has created a fear that the suffering of the people of Chittagong will be prolonged. If necessary, we can arrange it in a more investigative-feature-like language or with a stronger lead suitable for the front page of the newspaper.