10-Yr Record Rain: Major parts of Rajshahi city go under water

Much of Rajshahi city was flooded between Wednesday night and yesterday afternoon as the metropolitan area witnessed its highest single-day rainfall in the last decade.

Streets and houses in low-lying areas, including the Padma residential area, Uposhohor Housing Estate area, Terokhadia area, and Rajshahi University campus, have been submerged, resulting in public suffering.

A video that went viral on social media showed locals plying a boat on the waterlogged streets of Bornali intersection. While others posted photos of people catching fish that got washed away from overflowing ponds in the city.

This correspondent found Laxmipur, Kazihata, and Ghoshpara areas, where waterlogging is almost unheard of, were inundated.

The city recorded 245.8mm of rain in the last 24 hours till 1:00pm yesterday, which is almost the same amount of rainfall (254mm) in the entire month of September, said Rohidul Islam, an observatory officer at the local Met office.

According to the local Met office, previous instances of highest single-day rainfall were 111.6mm on July 21, 2021, 107mm on July 13, 2017, and 99mm on September 1, 2013.

The Met office considers 44-88mm as "heavy rainfall" and 89mm and above as "very heavy rainfall".

"Excessive rain has caused waterlogging, but if there is no more rain tomorrow, the rainwater will recede quickly," said Selim Reza, deputy chief conservancy officer of Rajshahi City Corporation.

"We have a quality drainage system. However, due to careless garbage dumping, the sewers got blocked in some areas. The problems have been identified and addressed," he added.