Due to the influence of Cyclone Remal, Chattogram has recorded 235.4 millimeters of rainfall in the last 24 hours, which is considered abnormal for the pre-monsoon season, according to the Patenga Weather Office.
Rezaul Karim Khan, a meteorologist at the Patenga Weather Office, told Jago News, “From 6 PM Sunday to 6 PM Monday, Chattogram recorded 235.4 millimeters of rainfall. The heavy rainfall has caused widespread waterlogging throughout the city. Rainfall is expected to continue tomorrow.”
20% of Chattogram residents without electricity
For the second time this season, the residents of Chattogram city are facing waterlogging. The continuous rainfall has caused severe waterlogging in the city, submerging a power substation and extensive areas. As a result, 20% of Chattogram’s residents are without electricity. Additionally, due to the heavy rain and stormy weather, operations at the Chattogram Port have not returned to normal even after two days, causing significant inconvenience for the city’s inhabitants.
Rezaul Karim, chief engineer of the Chattogram South Electricity Distribution Division, said, "Due to Cyclone Rimel and heavy rainfall, many areas of Chattogram city have been without electricity since the morning. The excessive rainwater has submerged the ground floors and meter units of various buildings, leading to the suspension of electricity supply in these areas. During the cyclone, our load dropped to 350 megawatts but has now risen to 600 megawatts. However, about 20% of customers are still without power."
He added that due to water entering the Halisahar electricity office and substation, power supply has been cut off since the morning in Halisahar, Rangipara, Shantibagh, Ramna, and Shyamoli residential areas. Similarly, power supply has been suspended in several other areas of the city due to fallen trees and submerged roads.
Chattogram Port still inoperative after two days
Due to Cyclone Rimel, cargo unloading at Chattogram Port has been suspended for nearly two days. Although administrative work resumed at the port from 12 PM on Monday, no ships have been able to dock at the jetty due to bad weather.
Omar Faruq, Secretary of the Chattogram Port, told Jago News, “No ships have come from the outer anchorage to the port today due to bad weather. If any arrive within the next few hours, operational work might begin. However, administrative and internal work at the port started at noon.”
Earlier, on Saturday night, following the weather department's warning to show danger signal number 6 due to Cyclone Rimel, Chattogram Port issued its second-highest alert, ‘Alert-3’. According to this alert, the authorities instructed the suspension of cargo handling and unloading activities at the port.
Meanwhile, during the heavy rainfall, a youth named Saiful Islam Hridoy (25) died after being crushed by a wall at a construction site in the Textile Jade residential area under Bayezid Bostami Police Station.
From around 10 PM on Sunday, it started raining in Chattogram, compounded by tidal water. By 1:30 AM, various areas of the city began experiencing waterlogging. As a result, thousands of people in the low-lying areas of the city spent a sleepless night. Waterlogging became permanent from Monday morning. Areas like Chawk Bazar, Muradpur, Bahaddarhat, Badurtala, Shulkbahar, Mohammadpur, Kapasgola, Katalganj, Baklia, Chandgaon, Agrabad CDA residential area, Chaktai-Khatunganj, Kalurghat, Barapool, Halisahar, and others were submerged. As of 6 PM today, waterlogging reports continue from these areas.
From Monday morning, people from various professions faced severe difficulties when stepping out. The situation at Probortak Mor and Bahaddarhat was the worst. Rickshaws moved through waist-deep water, and pedestrians waded through the flooded streets.
Nasir Hossain, a resident of Chawk Bazar, said, “When I left home in the morning to go to the office, I found our area flooded. After much struggle, I reached Bahaddarhat Mor. It was also flooded. Muradpur was the same. After a difficult two-hour journey, partly by rickshaw and on foot, I finally reached Oxygen.”
Nazma Begum, a housewife from Shamsher Para in Chandgaon, said, “Water entered our house at 11 AM. Now, there is knee-deep water inside. This has never happened before. We are sitting on the bed with my husband and children. Cooking is stopped, we are buying food from hotels.”
Previously, on May 6, Chattogram city experienced waterlogging due to an hour of continuous rain in the afternoon. That day, the lower areas of the port city were submerged, with water levels reaching from ankle to knee height in some places.
AAZ/MSU