City commuters suffer for rain, traffic gridlocks

Heavy rains swept the capital on Thursday morning leaving the traffic in a complete mess inflicting immense sufferings on commuters. The rain, which was supposed to bring a relief in the city life amid continuous scorching heat, turned into a cause of miseries as their movement was badly hampered due to water logging and traffic congestions. Many areas like Pallabi, Mirpur-10, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Shantinagar, Mouchak, Malibagh, Moghbazar and Jatrabari went under water due to the downpour. The rain that began around 8:30 am flooded many city streets while commuters, mostly school and office-goers, had to endure sufferings for lack of vehicles. Vehicles were seen moving slowly on the streets and commuters got stuck in long tailbacks for hours together in different areas, including Mirpur, Rokeya Sharani, Airport Road and Tejgaon, Gulshan, Badda and Baridhara. The construction work on the Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover has left the roads stretching from Satrastha crossing to Moghbazar, Mouchak, Malibagh and Banglamotor intersections in a mess, aggravating the public plight. DC (media) of DMP Muntashirul Islam said traffic jam turned acute as some vehicles went out of service on water-logged roads in some areas. “And those vehicles had to be removed with wreckers,” he said. The inaugural function of ‘Police Plaza’ of Bangladesh Police Welfare Trust at Gulshan began behind the schedule as the venue had to be shifted to the Plaza Ground Floor from the adjacent park due to the rain. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the Police Plaza. — Dhaka, June 11 (UNB)