Noakhali district town Maijdi was submerged in six hours of rain. About 60-70 percent of the city has been submerged in rain water. Water has risen in many houses. Many important roads have been submerged. The residents have suffered greatly. Residents complain that this situation has arisen due to lack of planned drainage system.

Officer-in-charge (OC) of the observation center of the District Meteorological Department. Rafiqul Islam told Prothom Alo that 82 millimeters of rainfall has been recorded in the district town of Maizdi in six hours from 12:00 PM on Monday to 6:00 AM on Tuesday. This is the highest rainfall in the current monsoon season. And in the last 24 hours from 6 am yesterday to 6 am this morning 109 mm rained. According to the weather forecast, rain may continue for a few more days.

This morning, on the surface of the city, Lakshminarayanpur area, Noakhali Government College, Harinarayanpur, Krishnarampur, Noakhali Government Girls’ School, Government Women’s College area can be seen, most of the roads in these areas are submerged in rainwater. Rainwater has accumulated in the yard of houses around the road. Various parts of the city’s Central Road, Hakeem Quarter Road and other important roads have been submerged in rainwater. In this, the residents of the city including school and college students are suffering from unlimited suffering.

Abdul Jalil, a resident of Laxminarayanpur area of ​​the city, told Prothom Alo that the drains made by the municipal authorities on the side of the road are not suitable for draining heavy rainwater. Narrow drains are often filled with dirt and garbage. If it rains a little too much, the drains cannot take the pressure of the rainwater. The drain water overflowed in the neighboring houses. People are forced to walk in that dirty water.

Syed’s house can be seen in the city’s Bachira shop area, almost knee-deep water in the whole house. Tajul Islam, a resident of the house, said that their house is flooded for seven to eight months of the year. The municipality has not constructed any drains for rain water. There is no road for residents to travel. If you contact the municipality, they say that there is no allocation. This is how they have been suffering for years. No one can see their suffering.

On the way back home after treading knee-deep water, I talked to Ismail Hossain, a resident of the city’s Women’s College area. In Prothom Alo, he said, suffering is their constant companion. In a little rain, water rises in their house. There is no drainage system. Although the men can walk through the rain water, the women and children of the family suffer more. A little rain eases their misery.

Executive Engineer of Noakhali Municipality Sujit Barua told the media that they are not able to clean the slab on top of the drain constructed by the Roads and Public Roads Department next to the main road of the city. Due to this, the problem of water drainage is increasing. Apart from that, the water of the city falls into other canals including Gabua canal, their water is also overflowing. Due to this, the water in the city is moving slowly. However, this official also opined that it is necessary to formulate a master plan for the development of the municipal drainage system.

Noakhali Municipality Mayor Sahid Ullah Khan said that he is aware of the waterlogging in various areas of the city due to continuous high rainfall. He has already asked the municipal officials to take action on the matter. They are taking measures for quick drainage including cleaning the drains. Apart from this, a major project has been undertaken to improve the city’s drainage system. If it is implemented, this problem will no longer exist.