Remal: Incessant rain brings Dhaka to its knees, causes traffic chaos

Dhaka dwellers suffered immensely on Monday as many parts of the city were submerged under knee to waist-high water due to incessant rain and gusty winds induced by Cyclone Remal.

This severe weather also caused trees to fall on roads, further complicating traffic. Residents faced a transport crisis while doing outdoor activities including attending offices, schools and markets.

Many office-goers were seen standing on the roadside due to a shortage of public transportation, while CNG auto-rickshaw drivers refused passengers because of waterlogged streets.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that around 115 mm of rainfall was recorded from Monday morning until 3pm and similar weather is expected to continue until Tuesday.

Locals say many areas in Dhaka South, including Rajarbag, Bhanshal, Doyaganj, Mirhazirbag, Nabinnagar, Kamalapur, Motijheel, and New Market, as well as areas in Dhaka North, including Vatara, Banani, Dakkhin Bazar, Uttarkhan, Shewrapara, Kazipara, Agargaon, and Mirpur-1, were affected.

Talking to the Daily Sun, Burhan Uddin, a resident of the Bangshal area, said, “Residents of Bangshal and Siddique Bazar could not move as the roads in the area were submerged under water.

Due to the condition of the roads, motorized and non-motorized vehicles were not available.” Zahirul Islam, a resident of Vatara, said, “Due to incessant rain, our main road from Notun Bazar to Solmaid is underwater because there is no drainage system. The common transports on the road, battery-run auto-rickshaws and easy-bikes are not available.”

He also claimed that only a few vehicles were available on the road and they were charging high fares to passengers.  “Due to waterlogging, drivers are charging higher fares to passengers. I regularly commute from Notunbazar to Solmaid by rickshaw for Tk40, but today they charged me Tk 60,” he added.

A press release from the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) said that they engaged 91 teams, each comprising 5 workers, to remove obstacles from roads to facilitate traffic flow and ensure proper drainage for rainwater.

They opened the hotline number 01709900888 to receive information about waterlogged areas.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) engaged 10 quick response teams for its 10 administrative areas. One team removed a tree from the road near Scholastica School in the Mirpur-13 area.

Also, they opened a hotline number 16106 to gather information regarding waterlogging.

DSCC’s explanation for waterlogging

In a press release, DSCC said that apart from Old Dhaka and a few areas, there was no widespread waterlogging. They attributed waterlogging in certain locations to ongoing development works by various agencies.

Water flow was obstructed in places such as Kamalapur, Green Road, and areas undergoing development projects like the construction of the elevated expressway.

Additionally, waterlogging in the New Market area was caused by the blocking of a drainage drain by BGB in 2009, and by Dhaka WASA installing a water supply pipeline in another drainage line.

DSCC mentioned holding a coordination meeting with Border Guard Bangladesh, Rajuk, Dhaka North City Corporation, and WASA on 10 July of the previous year to address waterlogging in the New Market area.

Following the meeting’s decisions, a tender process is underway for the construction of stormwater drainage.