Parts of Dhaka go underwater as 130mm rain recorded in 6 hours

The capital experienced 130 millimetres of rainfall in just six hours today, which caused extensive flooding on many roads and left city dwellers trudging through waterlogged streets well into the late evening.

"From 6am to 12pm, Dhaka recorded 130 millimetres of rain," said Tariful Newaz Kabir, a meteorologist at Bangladesh Meteorological Department. 

For comparison, during cyclone Remal this year, 223 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in 24 hours, he said. "Such heavy rainfall has not occurred recently in such a short period."

Many people were seen wading through knee-deep water to reach their destinations in Kakrail, Mouchak, Malibagh, Shantinagar, Farmgate, Badda, Moghbazar, Mirpur and Khilkhet areas.

Almost waist-deep water in Green Road, Dhaka, as heavy rains washed over the city since morning on 12 July 2024. Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS

The rainwater also slipped through vehicle engines travelling along the main roads, leading to engine damage and breakdowns, motorists said.

The early morning weekend shoppers of kitchen items, travellers to home for vacation and morning joggers were the worst sufferers.

Shah Alam, a driver, said he came out from his Mouchak residence around 7am to go to Gulshan but remained stranded for around 40 minutes at a lane in the Mouchak due to waterlogging.

A CNG-run autorickshaw splashes through water on Dhaka streets on 12 July 2024. Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS

Expressing resentment over the city's drainage system, he said the city is turning unlivable gradually as the low-lying areas usually get submerged after a light downpour.

He urged authorities concerned to take measures to address the issue immediately.

As heavy rain washes over Dhaka, people are still forced to go out due to various errands. Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS

Meanwhile, Dhaka North authorities said 5,000 sanitation workers and 10 quick response teams had been working to remove the rainwater since early morning. Dhaka South said it had deployed 100 teams to remove waterlogging. 

However, flooded roads were observed till 8pm in parts of Mirpur and Eskaton Road.

The highest recorded rainfall was 188mm in Sandwip, Chattogram division, by 6pm today within a 24-hour period.

Light to moderate rain accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to continue tomorrow in Dhaka and other areas in the country, according to the weather forecast of the Met Office.

'Metro rail construction damaged drainage system'

Drainage systems in Karwan Bazar, Banglamotor, Shahbagh, Paltan, and Motijheel have been damaged due to metro rail construction, said Mohammad Nasim Ahmed, chief waste management officer of Dhaka South. 

Waterlogging in Green Road, Dhaka, on 12 July 2024. Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS

Besides, due to the works of other agencies, blockages in drains have occurred in areas like Kamalapur and Sayedabad. "We are continuously working on development projects to solve these problems," he added. 

He also said no city in the world is capable of removing such heavy rainfall water within three to four hours.

Blaming the city residents for waterlogging, Nasim said, "The city's residents are not conscious. They encroach on canals, dump plastic waste in drains, blocking them, and then blame the city corporation. 

"There are certainly weaknesses in our work. But the existing infrastructure would have been sufficient to solve Dhaka's waterlogging if the city's residents were conscious."