Light rain impairs Dhaka again
As has been the case throughout this monsoon season, Dhaka streets yet again were gridlocked, caused by waterlogging following a moderate shower yesterday morning.
As a result, commuters and students became stuck in long snarl-ups in many parts of the city that lacks a functional drainage system.
Traffic was moving at a snail's pace on most of the inundated streets while it came to a standstill on many others.
Mirpur Road from Dhanmondi stretching up to Gabtoli, Mirpur 10 intersection, Mohammadpur, Gulshan, Mohakhali, Kuril Bishwa Road and Airport Road were a few of the most affected streets.
From 6:00am to 9:00am yesterday, the Met office recorded 54 millimetres of rainfall in Dhaka.
Maksud Rahman, a private banker who commutes to Gulshan 2 from Dhanmondi area, said it took him nearly an hour to pass Manik Mia Avenue from Dhanmondi Road 27. "I was late for work due to the jam."
“I got out of my house at Mohammadpur around 8:45am, but I reached my office at Farmgate around 11:00am,” said Ali Hossain, employee of a private firm.
Mirpur 10 resident Chaitanya said traffic movement ground to a halt in the Mirpur 10 roundabout area as the road toward Al Helal hospital went under knee-to-waist deep water. "It took 45 minutes for our bus to reach Kazipara from Mirpur 10 roundabout. It usually takes five minutes in a normal day.”
According to experts, the city's storm-water drainage system is inadequate and is only capable of dealing with around 30 mm rainfall and the streets get waterlogged if the rainfall exceeds 40mm. So, Dhaka needs a complete drainage network in which the canals, water retention areas, flood plains and rivers would collect, carry and retain rainwater and will be connected to each other.
Inadequate storm-water drainage system managed by seven different authorities with little coordination among themselves is the reason why Dhaka streets suffer deluge every time there is moderate rain, the experts also said.
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