Most low-lying parts of Rajshahi city, including some important offices and Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital, experienced heavy water logging with three days of non-stop rains until yesterday.
The frontal part of the hospital was covered by knee-deep water, resulting in the untold sufferings of patients and attendants.
Then, a totally unhealthy environment cropped up around the hospital as all dirt and wastage were floating in the water. Patients and their relatives struggled to move about.
Azad, who lives near Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital, said patients and their relatives had suffered a lot because of the waterlogging in front of the hospital.
He added that a rickshaw puller took Tk 10 from a person to ferry them to the hospital through water logging. Those who were poor had to walk themselves.
Officers, employees and other stakeholders of Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s office, Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s office and DIG office also suffered as water logging took place in front of the offices.
The city’s busiest area, Shahebbazar, also went under waist-deep water around 9:30am yesterday. Later, this water was pumped out. Rajshahi BSCIC City also went under knee-water yesterday morning.
BSCIC City Estate Officer Mominul Islam said it had rained all throughout the night. Water stood on the roads and in front of the factory because of poor storm water drainage system in the city. However, it receded several hours later.
Water logging was also seen at Sadhur and Monafer crossings, Terkhadia, Daspukur, Nimtola and Dingadoba areas.
Tasnim, who lives near Monnafer crossing, said there was waist-deep water in front of his house and those of other people. Even tube-wells went under water and so they were now apprehensive of the purity of water.
Rajshahi City Corporation Chief Engineer Ashraful Haq said: “Rain water used to flow into the bil (water body) to the north of the city, but now it has filled up with the water.
“Besides this, the drainage work was affected because of the heavy rain and so water is not flowing out through the drains” He said they would resume the repairs of the drainage system once the rainy season was out.
