Heavy Monsoon Rains Paralyze Comilla City, Renewing Calls for Flood Mitigation
Photo Collected
The onset of the monsoon season, traditionally celebrated as a time of natural renewal, brought widespread misery to Comilla on Monday as a heavy downpour paralyzed the city. A torrential rainstorm lasting only 90 minutes turned major thoroughfares into canals, leaving vehicles stranded and floodwaters surging into residential homes and business establishments.
According to the Comilla Meteorological Office, 50 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in just one hour, between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Officials noted that total precipitation for the day likely exceeded 100 millimeters. The sudden deluge overwhelmed the city’s drainage infrastructure, causing knee-deep water to accumulate in critical areas, including Kandirpar, Dharmapur, Chakbazar, Rescourse, and the vicinity of the Superintendent of Police’s residence.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Residents reported that the flooding was not an isolated incident but rather a recurring failure of urban planning. Despite years of electoral promises to address the chronic waterlogging, the infrastructure remains inadequate. Commuters were left stranded as auto-rickshaws and private cars suffered mechanical failures in the high water, forcing many to wade through stagnant, debris-filled runoff to reach their destinations. Business owners in affected districts expressed deep concern over potential financial losses as floodwaters breached storefronts.
Many residents attribute the persistent flooding to a lack of regular drain maintenance and the widespread practice of dumping waste into sewage systems, which restricts water flow. Speaking on the situation, locals emphasized that they are no longer interested in empty promises; they are calling for immediate, substantive action from the City Corporation to implement a permanent solution to the city’s drainage issues.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Addressing the crisis, Comilla City Corporation Administrator Md. Yusuf Molla (Tipu) stated that his administration has been working extensively to clear and reclaim the city’s canal networks since he assumed office in March. He acknowledged the severity of the problem, noting that ongoing inspections have uncovered multiple instances where drainage canals had been deliberately filled with soil or encroached upon, obstructing natural water discharge. He affirmed that efforts to clear these vital channels are currently underway.
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