Heavy monsoon rain has triggered severe flooding in Barisal city and surrounding coastal areas, with 159 mm of rainfall recorded in a single day and river water entering urban zones, disrupting daily life and submerging low-lying regions.
Barisal city recorded 159mm of rainfall in a single day due to the adverse weather conditions caused by monsoon rain over the past five days, disrupting normal life.
The weather department has warned that this condition may persist for another two to three days.
Anisur Rahman, in-charge of the Barisal Meteorological Office, confirmed the information on Wednesday afternoon.
The Barisal Meteorological Office further stated that the seaport has been asked to hoist warning signal number three, and the river port signal number one.
Anisur Rahman said that 159mm of rainfall was recorded in the previous 24 hours until 3pm on Wednesday, and the amount of monsoon rain may increase over the next two to three days.
Meanwhile, due to the continuous rain, severe waterlogging has occurred in crop fields, residential areas, and roads in various places, caused by an inadequate drainage system.
Working-class and low-income people are facing significant trouble as they are forced to remain indoors due to the rainfall.
In particular, Battala road, Gorosthan road, College avenue, and Amanatganj areas are submerged in two to three feet of water, according to locals.
Major educational institutions, especially the Government BM College, are completely submerged in rainwater. Similarly, several schools, including the Government Girls' High School field, are underwater.
Ali Imam, a resident of the College Road area in the city, said almost every area of the city is waterlogged due to the rainfall.
Barisal City Corporation has cleaned some of the major drains along the main roads.
However, since the smaller drains in the alleys have not been cleaned, citizens experience waterlogging whenever it rains.
Hasina Begum, a resident of Palashpur, said: "Even after the rain stops, we have to suffer for at least two months due to the lack of proper drainage and canal cleaning, which causes the waste carried by the logged water to remain."
Yusuf Ali, the sanitation officer of Barisal City Corporation, said: "Cleaning campaigns are being conducted to keep the city's drainage system active."
Currently, temporary waterlogging is occurring because the water level of the Kirtankhola river has risen and entered the city.
This official stated that 100 workers in five teams are engaged in cleaning activities across various areas each day.
“We are placing greater emphasis on cleaning the city’s canals to eliminate waterlogging,” Yusuf Ali added.
He said that Bhatarkhal, Jailkhal, Lakutia canal, and Kudghata canal have already been cleaned.
Delwar Hussain, deputy commissioner of Barisal, acknowledged the situation and said the administration is closely monitoring and preparing to tackle any further deterioration.
On the other hand, due to heavy rain, the low-lying areas of the coastal region have been flooded.
The isolated shoals (chars) along riverbanks have been submerged.
At least 13 sea trucks on 10 routes, including 10 that are now closed, have been affected, confirmed Bhola BIWTC Inspector Jashim Uddin Khan.
Bhola Deputy Commissioner Azad Jahan confirmed that the low-lying areas of the district have been flooded.
“However, we hope that most of this water will recede. We are constantly monitoring the situation,” he added.
The Bhola district administration also confirmed that the low-lying areas of Tazumuddin, Doulatkhan, and Monpura upazilas have been flooded.
Passenger-carrying water transport services in coastal areas—especially from Hatia, Lakshmipur, Doulatkhan, and Betua—have been suspended.
UNO Likhan Banik of Monpura upazila said that most of the areas are submerged due to tidal water entering through breaches in embankments at three points in the upazila.
He added that three pumps have been installed to remove the water.
In Bhola sadar upazila, due to heavy rain and tidal surge, water has entered most houses in Charnabad Majhi Bari area.
Abdul Malek, a resident of the area, said that 81 houses have been submerged under two to three feet of water.
Meanwhile, Tajul Islam, deputy assistant engineer of the Water Development Board in Barisal, said the water level in the main rivers of the division has increased compared to earlier levels.
“This is mainly due to heavy rainfall and high tide,” he said. “The Meghna river is currently flowing four centimetres above the danger level at the Tazumuddin point,” the WDB official added.