Sylhet soggy after highest rainfall in Bangladesh for two days

Sylhet City is knee-deep in water after it rained continuously for two days.

Sylhet CorrespondentMonjur Ahmed, bdnews24.com
Published : 11 June 2015, 11:05 AM
Updated : 11 June 2015, 11:05 AM

Residents from at least 50 areas were suffering due to heavy waterlogging, after it rained untilnoon on Thursday.

The highest rainfall in Bangladesh in the last 27 hours has been recorded in Sylhet – 238mm until Thursday morning, according to the Met office.

Upashahar, Sonaparha, Meerabazar, Jatarpur, Roynagar, Chhararparha, Machhimpur, Taltola, Jamtola, Dariaparha, Lamabazar, Bhatalia and Beelpar went under water after rain filled up the city’s water bodies.

Water was also seeping into at least 50 areas including Subidbazar, Bankalaparha, Housing Estate, Jalalabad, Loharparha, Baghbarhi, Kuwarparha, Charadighiparh, Royhossain, Hawaparha, Kalbakhani, Kumarparha, Kajalshah, Pathantula, Khojarkhola, Bhartakhala, Menikhala, Barkhala and Pathanparha. 

The rainwater washed into several houses and people have been locked inside because of the waterlogged streets.  
Locals say they suffer during rainy season every year because of the city’s inadequate drainage system and natural water bodies that have been encroached upon and filled in.  
Around 11 streams and canals go through the city – they are Dhubri Charha, Guwali Charha, Malni Charha, Bhubi Charha, Mirza Jangal Charha, Baitha Charha, Kewa Charha, Gabhial Charha, Ratnarkhal and Babur Charha. 
Large vessels once navigated on these streams during rainy season, but several of their existences can only be found on the city corporation’s map. 
Others have narrowed due to illegal structures that lean into them from both sides. 
Buildings stood on some streams that have been filled in entirely, which increases the threat of waterlogging. 
The city authorities remain ignorant about restoring these streams during the dry seasons, said Jumadin Ahmed, a resident of Khojarkhala. 
“They start mending them in a great hurry when the rain comes.”    
Their plans never come to any good because the rains always start before their work begins, according to him. 
The city corporation has completed several projects to release water bodies from illegal hands but they have had no effect on waterlogging. 
Its chief executive engineer (acting) Nur Azizur Rahman have blamed it on ‘an acute lack of planning’.   
The corporation worked on a project worth Tk 110 million for mending the city’s streams in 2009-10 fiscal, he told bdnews24.com.  
It has also completed the construction of 475 km-long drainage system over the city’s 568 km-long roads.  
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