Dhaka city was paralyzed on Monday as waterlogging caused by incessant rains from Sunday night led to severe traffic congestions across the capital.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), 63mm of rainfall was recorded in only three hours from 6am to 9am on Monday, the highest so far in the ongoing monsoon.
“Rainfall started from Sunday night and 19mm was recorded until 6am, but it increased after that,” said Omar Faruk, meteorologist at BMD.
“This level of rainfall will likely continue until July 23 in many areas, including Dhaka,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
As the downpour intensified, many streets and lanes in Dhaka were quickly submerged in knee to waist high water, leading to a severe traffic congestion and sufferings for commuters.
“The waterlogging was caused by heavy rain in Dhaka. Our teams have been working since early morning to remove water from the streets, but it takes time as the rivers and canals surrounding Dhaka are overflowing right now,” said AKM Shahidullah, director of the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA).
“The water will be cleared by the afternoon, if there isn’t more rain,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
Which areas of Dhaka were affected?
According to a Dhaka WASA situation report, streets and lanes in 48 areas in the capital became waterlogged on Monday.
The areas that suffered most include Mirpur’s Rokeya Sarani, Sewrapara and Kazipara, Tejgaon and Karwan Bazar, Moghbazar, Malibagh and Mouchak, Dhanmondi 27, Asadgate, Darussalam Road, Bongsal, Alauddin Road, Nazirabazar, Lalbagh, Banglamotor, Rajabazar, Shukrabad, Bijoynagar, Fakirapool, Mohakhali and Green Road.
Dhaka WASA recently finished a drainage system improvement project at Moghbazar, between Wireless and Hatirjheel police station, worth Tk1.23crore but the road was under knee-deep water on Monday morning.
Rostam Ali, a resident of Wireless area, said: “We had hoped that the waterlogging problem had been solved after many years, but the improvement has done nothing even after all that money was spent.”
West Noyatola, Sonalibagh and Malibagh areas also saw significant waterlogging despite improvements to their drainage systems.
Several town planners said Dhaka WASA officials should focus on maintaining existing drains instead of going for drain improvement projects, as such projects would not help if the drains were clogged.
Dr Adil Mohammad Khan, secretary of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners, said: “The drainage systems in Dhaka are not connected with one another, which is the main cause of waterlogging in some particular areas.
“Second, some drains that are connected with water pumping stations have become clogged with solid waste,” he added.
Commuters stranded on roads for hours
On Monday morning, many commuters, mainly office-goers, were stuck for hours on public transport as well as in private vehicles. Many people resorted to wading through the water to reach their destinations.
Abul Kashem, a resident of Green Road, told Dhaka Tribune: “The road in front of my house and the adjacent area is completely submerged despite drainage improvements last winter. I cannot go to work as there is water on my doorstep.”
Those who did manage to leave their homes faced severe traffic gridlocks.
It was observed that at some areas of the city, including the stretch from Mouchak to Banglmotor, Shahbagh to Farmgate, Panthapath to Dhanmondi and Khamarbari to Mirpour-10, vehicular traffic was at a complete standstill.
“I set out for my office from Mirpur at 8am and I got there at 10.30. It normally takes me a maximum of half an hour,” said Nabila Akhter, a banker.
“Many vehicles stalled after water got into their engines, making the traffic even worse,” she added.
Monjur Morshed, additional deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Traffic), said: “The waterlogging made the traffic congestion worse. If the rainfall continues, the traffic situation is unlikely to improve.”
Rains to continue
According to the BMD, the rains will likely continue until July 23.
The BMD has also asked maritime ports, including Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra, to hoist the local cautionary signal No. 3 as stormy weather has been forecast for the coastal areas of the country. The BMD also forecasts torrential rain in different parts of the country, including Dhaka, due to the monsoon.
The monsoon is active over Bangladesh and intense to severely intense over the North Bay of Bengal, the Met Office said.
According to the Water Development Board and Flood Forecasting and Warning Center, flooding will worsen this week as water has been flowing over the danger line in many rivers.
“Many areas in Shatarkul, Badda, Bhatara, Sutrapur and Shanir Akhra under the Dhaka City Corporation are likely to be flooded. Tidal water in the rivers surrounding Dhaka have interrupted the process of pumping out the water,” said AKM Shahidullah, director of DWASA.
