Torrential rains lashed the port city of Chattogram on Tuesday, causing severe waterlogging in several key areas and prompting authorities to warn of potential landslides in the hilly regions.
The city saw 51mm of rainfall in just three hours between noon and 3:00 PM. The sudden downpour left major intersections, including Prabartak More, Muradpur, and the roads in front of Chattogram Medical College (CMC) Hospital, under knee-to-waist-deep water.
The flooding caused significant disruption to daily life. Residents and patients visiting clinics like CSCR and Seba Diagnostic Center were stranded as water entered nearby healthcare facilities. Numerous vehicles, including auto-rickshaws and private cars, were seen stuck in floodwaters with stalled engines, while long traffic jams paralyzed the city’s main arteries.
Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) officials identified drainage bottlenecks as a major cause. "At several points, 20-foot wide canals are being forced through single pipes due to ongoing construction embankments," said Pranab Kumar Sharma, Deputy Chief Cleaning Officer.
City Mayor Shahadat Hossain inspected the affected areas in the afternoon. He noted that ongoing work by the Army's 34th Construction Brigade on the Hijra Canal and other CDA-led projects are yet to be completed. "We are monitoring the situation closely. If the Hijra Canal work is finished by May 15 as promised, we expect the waterlogging to subside significantly," the Mayor told reporters.
The Patenga Meteorological Office has issued a alert for Kalbaisakhi storms across all eight divisions. Due to the intensity of the rain, a specific warning has been issued for the hilly areas of Chattogram, where the risk of landslides remains high.
