Low-lying areas of Chittagong city went under water after heavy downpour at regular intervals from dawn to dusk yesterday.
Around 10 lakh residents of Bakalia, Agrabad, Halishahar, Bahaddarhat, Khatunganj, Chaktai, Chittagong Development Authority residential area, Chawk Bazar and Badurtala areas have been affected.
Waist-deep water was seen in several areas where the residents were trying to pump the water, mixed with garbage and emitting stench, out of their residences.
Movement of traffic almost came to a halt as people were seen wading through the water overflowing from the sewers.
The affected people blamed Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) for not cleaning the drains to remove blockages and siltation of Karnaphuli river and Chaktai Khal for slow drainage of water from the areas.
Manash Ghosh, a shopkeeper of Chawk Bazar area, said, “We were hopeful when Mayor M Manjur Alam assured of solving the waterlogging problem before the CCC election last year. But we do not see sufficient efforts from the CCC to address the problem.”
On contact, the mayor put the blame on the slow pace of the project for capital dredging in the river Karnaphuli, which began on July 5 this year. He said CCC employees are already working to keep the drainage system flowing.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
