Overnight downpour submerges Rangpur city

Residents of Rangpur city had to wade through knee to waist-deep water yesterday, as the roads and alleys of most areas were inundated, following a deluge of rainfall overnight. City dwellers blamed the poor drainage system for the situation.

According to the Meteorological Department in Rangpur, the office recorded at least 265 millimetres of rainfall in 24 hours in the district since Sunday 9pm; 222 mm was recorded in just seven hours from 12am.

During a visit to different places -- including Jummapara, Kamarpara, Babukha, Kamalkasna, Mahiganj, Botla, Mulatol, Munsipara, Gomostapara, Khalifapara, Nagar Mirganj, Hosenbazar, Sardarpara, Adarshapara and Masterpara -- this correspondent found that locals were struggling to keep water out of their houses and shop.

Water at many areas started receding from yesterday noon.

Mezbahul Islam, a resident of Senpara, said the ground floor of all houses there were submerged after seven hours of rainfall. Such a situation could have been avoided, if the Shyamasundari and KD canals were kept clean.

Both canals have been choked due to uncontrolled encroachment, he said.

Tuhin Wadud -- head of Begum Rokeya University's Bangla department and founder director of Riverine People, an organisation that works to protect rivers -- said the two canals are Rangpur's lifeline. The 16-kilometre long Shyamasundari canal already lost its water-flow, as Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) failed to protect it by removing illegal structures.

Rangpur city is surrounded by multiple rivers. "Such waterlogging in the city area is due to river grabbing," he said.

RCC Mayor Mostafizar Rahman, however, said steps had been taken to end waterlogging in the city. He claimed that after the downpour, rainwater drained out within a short time.

Rangpur city dwellers witnessed a similar scenario on September 27 last year, when the entire city was submerged due to record 349 mm of rainfall.