Feni district in Bangladesh has been severely affected following an intense episode of what meteorologists describe as a “cloudburst” or extremely heavy rainfall over a short duration. The sudden downpour has disrupted daily life across the town, with widespread waterlogging reported in multiple neighbourhoods.
According to the local weather office, 126 millimetres of rainfall were recorded within just one hour, resulting in immediate inundation across low-lying urban areas. Over the past 24 hours, the district has recorded a total of 150 millimetres of rainfall, which is the highest for the current year.
On Tuesday (28 April) at 3:00 pm, Mohammad Mojibur Rahman, acting officer of the District Weather Office, confirmed these rainfall figures.
The heavy rainfall has led to severe waterlogging in several parts of Feni town, including Doctorpara, Shaheed Shahidullah Kaiser Road, Old Registry Office area, Shahin Academy area, Pathanbari, Nazir Road, Mizan Road, Sadar Hospital intersection, and Petrobangla area. Low-lying roads in these localities have been submerged under water, with levels rising from knee-deep to waist-deep in certain areas. Shopkeepers have also reported damage as water entered commercial premises, affecting stored goods and daily operations.
Feni Municipality Executive Engineer Zakir Uddin stated that drainage systems and canals are currently unable to discharge water quickly due to the continuous rainfall. He noted that 12 municipal response teams have been deployed to address the waterlogging situation. According to him, water from roads and residential areas is expected to recede within approximately one hour, depending on rainfall conditions.
The weather office has further indicated that the rainfall may continue for up to three days due to the influence of a normal low-pressure system. Officials have also warned of the possibility of thunderstorms and localised nor’westers during this period.
A cloudburst is defined as an extreme and sudden rainfall event over a very small area within a short period, often exceeding 100 millimetres per hour. While more commonly associated with mountainous regions, such events can lead to flash flooding and rapid urban inundation in vulnerable areas, as seen in Feni. Such conditions may overwhelm drainage infrastructure within minutes, causing temporary paralysis of road transport and disruption to daily life.
Rainfall Summary
| Time Period | Rainfall Recorded | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 126 mm | District Weather Office |
| 24 hours | 150 mm (highest of year) | District Weather Office |
The situation in Feni remains under close observation as authorities continue mitigation efforts to restore normal conditions.