Only 1.5hrs rain drowns Khulna

Moderate rain inundated around two-thirds of Khulna city yesterday, causing immense sufferings to residents.

According  to the met office, 39 mm rainfall was recorded in the city. Amirul Azad, senior meteorological officer, said the rain started at 12:30pm  and ended at 2:00pm.

Locals and development activists said  encroachment of waterbodies in and around the city and poor drainage  system caused such waterlogging. Meanwhile, residents alleged that  the sufferings of around 1.7 million people living in the  45.65-square-kilometre area, under 31 wards, are persisting due to  indifference of the authorities concerned.

According to Khulna City Corporation, total length of the city's drainage network is  651.50 km. Of it, 291.23 km is made of concrete, 55 km half concrete and 305 km earthen.

While visiting many areas yesterday, including  Daulatpur, Pabla, Boyra, Rupsha Stand Road, KDA Avenue, Iqbalnagar,  Tutpara, Gallamari, Moilapota, Dakbangla, Santhidham Mor, Phulmarket and Press Club, this correspondent found most of the roads under ankle- to  knee-deep water.

Slum dwellers and residents of low-lying  Bastuhara, South Pabla, Dayana and Boyra areas were the worst sufferers.  Many kitchen markets -- including Sheikhpara, Bastuhara and Boikali --  went under water.

Vehicles were found stranded on waterlogged roads. Habibur Rahman, a resident of Bastuhara, said, "Most of the drains in our area are not properly cleaned."

Imran Sheikh from Boyra residential area said their area got waterlogged just 10 to 15 minutes after the rain began.

Anisur Rahman, conservancy officer of KCC, said KCC regularly cleans drains to ensure proper water flow. The cleaning drive for all 2,187 drains is sometimes interrupted due to manpower shortage.

Sheikh  Ashrafuzzaman, secretary general of Greater Khulna Unnayan Sangram  Committee, said, "The drains and canals have lost navigability and water flow due to encroachment and garbage dumping."

Contacted, Mayor Talukder  Abdul Khaleque said during high tides in Bhairab and Rupsha around the  city, the sewers cannot properly drain water to the rivers. "We have taken steps to repair and construct drains and excavate 22 canals at a cost of Tk 823 crore," he said.