Dhaka-Mymensingh highway was almost paralysed due to waterlogging in several areas of Gazipur caused by heavy downpour in the last two days.
Several houses in low-lying areas were inundated and the Tongi Government Hospital and Tongi Model Police Station were submerged in water.
It was raining from Wednesday night to Thursday afternoon, Naojor Highway Police Outpost Sub Inspector Mohammad Iqbal said. “Before stagnant water could move out, it rained again for almost three hours on Friday morning.”
“Bhogra, Chowdhurybari, Dhaka-bypass, Basan road, Maleker Bari, Signboard and several areas on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway are inundated.”
Traffic snarled on roads due to flooding, bdnews24.com Gazipur Correspondent reported.
Tongi Model Police Station Sub Inspector Maleka Banu said her station and adjacent Tongi Hospital were also submerged.
Bhogra Ward no-4 former member Abdus Salam said the drainage system has been clogged due to illegally constructed makeshift stalls, markets and other establishments beside the highway. “Even a drizzle leads to water-logging these days.”
“Some people are rearing fishes in the fields blocking water flow.”
“If rainfall continues, water will inundate houses and huts might collapse causing casualties,” he said.
The drains were clogged with household and industrial wastes, Gazipur Roads and Highways Division Executive Engineer Mohammad Monwar Hossain said. “We are working on it.”
Meanwhile, people were facing difficulties to carry out their daily routine works.
Jonny, worker of a local ‘Star Light Sweaters’ factory in Bhogra, said he saw water everywhere while heading towards his workplace. Another worker of Pegasus Shoes, Tofazzel Hossain, too had similar complains.
Gazipur Additional Deputy Commissioner Dewan Humayun Kabir said efforts were on to clear the drains. “We hope things will get better after rain recedes.”
Source: Bd news24
