Rain wreaks havoc on Ctg, Cumilla roads
Even a light spell of rain has once again exposed the fragile urban drainage system in Chattogram and Cumilla, where key roads and intersections went under water within hours, disrupting daily life, traffic movement, and business activities.
In Chattogram, just 6mm of rainfall around noon was enough to inundate the Prabartak intersection, a crucial link road leading toward Chattogram Medical College Hospital. The area quickly turned into a stagnant pool of dirty water, forcing vehicles to slow down to a crawl and leaving pedestrians struggling to navigate submerged roads.
Traffic congestion spread to nearby GEC and Golpahar intersections, turning short commutes into long delays. Commuters reported that even a five-minute journey took over an hour due to severe gridlock caused by waterlogging.
Residents blamed ongoing infrastructure work and poor drainage maintenance for the situation. Local transport operators said flooding has become a daily occurrence in some areas, even without significant rainfall, due to obstruction in natural canals and construction activities.
Authorities said the Hizra Khal drainage channel-once significantly wider-has narrowed due to encroachment and ongoing development work. The project to renovate multiple canals under the Chattogram Development Authority and implementation support from the Bangladesh Army’s engineering unit remains incomplete in key areas, including Hizra Khal and Jamal Khan Khal.
In Cumilla, heavier rainfall led to a more widespread situation, submerging major roads such as Race Course Main Road, the District Judge Court area, Jhautola Road, and parts of the Tomsom Bridge vicinity.
Office workers, students, and pedestrians were stranded as drainage systems overflowed and streets filled with stagnant water.
Local officials reported that around 139mm of rainfall was recorded within six hours, while blocked drainage lines were identified as a primary cause of flooding. The Cumilla City Corporation said ward-level workers have been deployed to manage the situation.
Urban planners and residents alike pointed to long-standing issues such as unplanned development, clogged drains, and inadequate maintenance as key reasons behind recurring waterlogging in both cities.
Despite ongoing development projects aimed at improving drainage capacity, the latest incidents highlight persistent gaps in implementation and coordination, leaving major urban centers vulnerable even to moderate rainfall.
