Cyclone Remal has left the capital reeling under its impact, causing widespread waterlogging and power outages after incessant rain throughout the day and night.
Starting from Sunday night, the cyclone intensified, bringing heavy rains that worsened the situation further.
The waterlogging has caused immense suffering as water has entered houses in the capital’s low-lying areas, trapping thousands of residents. Numerous vehicles were crippled in many parts of the city. The rain has also resulted in power outages across the city while four people died due to electrocution in different water logged areas of Jatrabari, Badda, Khilgaon.
Peoples’ sufferings mount especially in low-lying areas where roads are dug up for installing new sewerage systems and road construction.
Mass people want solutions to such miserable conditions that have been continuing in the city over the years. They have also demanded coordinated and planned initiatives among the government agencies.
At Rampura, private jobholder Rokon Uddin while talking to this correspondent said, “The two City Corporations of Dhaka have various initiatives to solve the waterlogging of the city. But none of the initiatives are working. The two organizations are spending crores of taka every year to remove the problem of waterlogging, but there is no improvement. When it rains, the roads of the city go under water.”
Institute for Planning and Development Executive director said, “Dhaka is a very old city. Over the years, due to mismanagement we have destroyed its natural drainage system. According to information from both city corporations, they have earlier told the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives that they cannot keep a water logging free capital with their existing manpower. They have applied to the ministry for a separate department to control water logging. Besides, adequate manpower has also been sought to manage the department.
However, both city corporations have shown their effective measures in reducing the water logging of the city.
The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) reported receiving 281 calls between 8 am on Monday and 8 am on Tuesday, reporting incidents of fallen trees and water logging. The DNCC’s quick response teams promptly addressed these issues, removing fallen trees and draining waterlogged areas.
The DNCC Mayor said, “About 125 mm of rain had fallen from morning till 5 pm, emphasizing that despite the heavy rainfall, water did not remain stagnant on the main roads of the DNCC area for long. Over 5,300 sanitation workers and 10 quick response teams have been deployed to manage the waterlogging.”
Meanwhile, the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has deployed 91 teams to mitigate waterlogging in its jurisdiction. The DSCC has also deployed 80 teams from its waste management department and 11 teams from its engineering department to work at the field level, addressing the aftermath of Cyclone Remal.
