Torrential rain forces three flights to skip landing at Chattogram airport

Severe weather disrupts arrivals, sending two overseas flights to Dhaka

‘Extreme rainfall’ has disrupted flight operations at Chattogram's Shah Amanat International Airport, forcing three incoming flights to abort their landings.

Airport public relations officer Ibrahim Khalil said on Tuesday that two international flights and one domestic flight had been unable to land because of the downpour.

Two of the flights, US-Bangla's BS 350 from Abu Dhabi and Air Arabia's G9-526 from Sharjah, diverted to Dhaka after failing to land in the port city.

Khalil said Bangladesh Biman's BG 121, flying the domestic Dhaka-Chattogram route, also turned back to the capital.

Despite the disruptions to arrivals, all outbound flights operated as scheduled, he added.

Rain that began on Sunday morning turned into a torrential downpour on Monday, continuing through Tuesday with heavy showers.

Patenga Met Office said 386.8mm of rainfall was recorded in the 24 hours to noon on Tuesday.

The rain has caused waterlogging in several parts of the city, including the Agrabad Commercial Area, the CDA Residential Area, Katalganj, Panchlaish, Kapasgola, Chawkbazar, Halishahar K and L blocks, Rampur, Teen Poler Matha and Batali Road.

City residents have faced disruption since morning due to the waterlogging, with rickshaws far outnumbering other vehicles on the roads.

Classes and exams at several city schools were suspended due to the "adverse weather”.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department's rainfall classification, more than 88mm of rain in 24 hours is considered very heavy rainfall.

Chattogram's latest rainfall far exceeded that threshold.