1 dies as rain continues to batter Ctg
A construction worker was killed and three others were injured early yesterday when a rain-soaked boundary wall of a building collapsed on a tin-shed barrack of the workers at Rahamat Nagar in Nasirabad of Chittagong city which has been in the grip of incessant rain for the fourth consecutive day.
The deceased was Md Aslam, 22, of Chapainawabganj. Md Mamun, Md Shefajul, and Khokan are undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hopital, said Jasim Uddin, deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence of Chittagong.
The port city dwellers got no respite from waterlogging and faced immense sufferings as the city's low-lying areas, almost one-third of the city area, went under knee-deep to waist-deep water due to torrential downpours that continued from Friday midnight till yesterday.
Chittagong Met Office recorded 537.4mm rain in the city during the last 48 hours while 211.2mm rain during the last 24 hours till 9:00am, said an official, Nur Mohammad.
The low-lying areas include Bakalia, Bahaddarhat, Katalganj, Muradpur, Halishahar, and Agrabad.
People were seen again yesterday throwing out water from their houses and shops. Motor vehicles did not run on the streets while very few rickshaws were seen plying. Commuters and pedestrians mostly had to walk through filthy water overflowing from roadside drains to reach their destinations.
Many schools had to suspend their academic activities due to the rain. Aparna Barua, a teacher of Chittagong Grammar School, said their exams scheduled for yesterday were postponed.
Water entered the classrooms on the ground floor of Pashchchim Bakalia Government Primary School, Bakalia Adorsha Uchcha Balika Bidyalay, Bakalia Government High School and Bangabandhu Model Primary School, said locals.
Jahid Chowdhury, who was walking through filthy water in Kapasgola area, expressed his resentment towards Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) for failing to address the city's waterlogging problem.
People of the submerged areas held CCC responsible for poor sewerage management of the city that is causing waterlogging.
Meanwhile, water overflowed the embankment of Srimati Khal (canal) and submerged many houses, ponds and acres of agricultural fields in Bhatikhine and Chhanahara villages of Patiya upazila on Friday, said Abdul Mannan, Bhatikhine Union Parishad member.
Road communications on Chittagong-Rangamati and Chittagong-Khagrachhari routes remained snapped from the morning till afternoon due to waterlogging from Laliar Hat to Bara Dighir Par in Hathazari upazila, said Hathazari police.
People of Chittagong might not get a respite immediately as forecasting officer of Chittagong Met Office Nilufer Jahan yesterday said rain might continue for the next 24 hours. Chittagong Port was advised to hoist signal number 3, she added.
Comments