The port city of Chattogram has been battered by heavy rainfall for the past three days, with 333.8 millimetres of rain recorded in the 24 hours until 9:00am on Tuesday, leaving many roads and key areas submerged.

The flooding has caused widespread disruption, with office workers, students and daily wage earners facing severe hardship as waterlogging affected normal movement across the city.

Meteorologist Zahirul Islam of the Patenga Weather Office told Daily Sun that Chattogram recorded 333.8 mm of rainfall during the 24-hour period ending at 9:00am on Tuesday.

He added that more rainfall is likely due to the active monsoon.

Heavy rain during the morning rush hour left commuters stranded, while water entered homes in several low-lying neighbourhoods, worsening the suffering of residents.

The number of vehicles on the roads dropped significantly because of widespread waterlogging, making it difficult for people to reach their destinations on time.

According to local sources, water levels began rising in low-lying parts of the city, including Agrabad, Chandgaon and Katalganj, shortly after Monday evening.

Large areas of Bakalia, Chawkbazar and other low-lying neighbourhoods were inundated, with knee-deep water covering many roads. Commuters were forced to wade through floodwater to continue their journeys.

Severe traffic congestion also developed in the Badurtala area, leaving vehicles stranded for hours.

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is personally monitoring efforts to permanently resolve the city’s long-standing waterlogging problem.

He said the prime minister has formed a powerful committee comprising all relevant service agencies to coordinate the work.

“The construction of a waterlogging-free Chattogram is one of our top priorities. To achieve this goal, officials and staff of the City Corporation’s sanitation and engineering departments are working tirelessly around the clock,” the mayor said.

Meanwhile, continuous rainfall has also caused flooding in many parts of Satkania, Patiya, Chandanaish and Rangunia upazilas of the district, submerging transplanted Aman paddy fields and fish farms.