Zakir Azad, Cumilla

Cumilla City submerged in one hour of heavy rain A vast area of Comilla city has been submerged in just one hour of extremely heavy rain.

The nearly 100 millimeters of rainfall recorded from 5:20 PM to 6:20 PM on Monday caused widespread waterlogging in the city's main roads, alleys, homes, businesses, hospitals and educational institutions. The city's residents are facing extreme hardship as knee-deep water accumulates. In addition to disrupting traffic due to this sudden rain, normal public life in the city has practically come to a standstill.

According to the District Meteorological Office, 91.4 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in just one hour from the afternoon to 6:20 PM. The weather officer is calling it extremely heavy rainfall. This is the highest rainfall record in Cumilla this season. The intensity of the rain was especially high in the Cumilla City Corporation area. Even though it rained outside the city, such heavy rainfall was not seen.

Immediately after the rain, various areas of the city and suburbs including Kandirpar, Manoharpur, Kandirpar to Eidgaon Road, Tomcham Bridge to Cumilla Medical College Hospital Road, Tomcham Bridge to Kandirpar Road, Salauddin to Women's College Road, Women's College to Ranirdighi Road, Rajganj to Chawkbazar, Dharmasagarpar, Ranirbazar, Victoria College Degree Branch, Jangalia, Shassangacha, Jhautala, Bagichagaon, Thakurpara, Faujdari to Adalat Road, Police Lines, Housing Estate were waterlogged.

In many places, knee-deep water accumulated on the roads, slowing down the movement of vehicles. Many motorcycles, auto-rickshaws and battery-powered vehicles broke down in the water. People returning home after work were seen stuck on the roads for a long time.
The most distressing picture was seen in the Cumilla Medical College Hospital area. Water accumulated on various roads of the hospital, in front of the wards and around the exteriors, severely hampering the movement of patients and relatives. Many patients who came to the emergency department had to enter the hospital by stepping on water. Water also entered various parts of the ground floor of the hospital, causing distress.

Patients and relatives complained that even a little rain causes waterlogging in the hospital area, but there is no long-term solution.

The Cumilla Education Board area was also not spared from waterlogging. Water accumulated on the Education Board premises and roads, creating water bodies. At the same time, the grounds and entrances of various schools, colleges and educational institutions in Cumilla , the degree branch of Victoria Government College, the Dharmapur Food Warehouse in Cumilla , the Government Women's College, and various schools and colleges and educational institutions were submerged in water.

There were also incidents of water entering the ground floors of various government and private institutions in the city. Water entered the ground floors, garages and kitchens of many houses. Residents were busy moving furniture and essential items to safe places. Many family members in low-lying areas were seen removing water with buckets and pumps. Water has also entered several shops, showrooms and business establishments, creating a risk of damage.

Traders said that many did not get a chance to move their goods due to the sudden increase in water.

At the same time, city residents complained that due to unplanned urbanization, encroachment of canals and natural reservoirs, inadequate drainage system and lack of regular cleaning of existing drains and sewers, Cumilla city is getting submerged even in heavy rains for a short period of time. In many places, the drain water overflowed onto the roads and there was no way to drain the water, causing waterlogging for a long time.

Cumilla Meteorological Office official Syed Arifur Rahman said that 91.4 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in just one hour from 5:20 pm to 6:20 pm, which is very heavy rainfall. This rainfall was mainly concentrated in the Cumilla City Corporation area.

He said that the rain may continue throughout the night, but it is likely to be moderate to heavy. No more heavy rainfall is forecast for now.