Three-Hour Deluge Leaves Comilla City Flooded

Three hours of relentless heavy rain on Monday transformed large parts of Comilla city into waterlogged zones, disrupting daily life and causing widespread suffering among residents. Major roads, narrow lanes, residential neighbourhoods, business areas and several public and private establishments were inundated as drainage systems struggled to cope with the sudden downpour.

From knee-deep to waist-deep water in different areas, the flooding created severe difficulties for commuters, low-income families, day labourers, office-goers and students. Many residents found it difficult to leave their homes, while vehicles moved slowly through submerged roads, creating long delays across the city.

According to the local weather office, Comilla recorded 107 millimetres of rainfall within just three hours from early Monday morning until 9am. Over the previous 24 hours, the district received a total rainfall of 138.2 millimetres. Meteorologists warned that further heavy rainfall was possible throughout the day, raising concerns that the waterlogging situation could persist.

The intense rainfall overwhelmed drainage channels and roadside drains in several parts of the city. Areas including Monoharpur, Mahila College Road, Bagan Bari, South Chartha, Zilla School Road, Police Lines, Race Course, North Race Course, Thakurpara, BSCIC Industrial Estate, Gobindapur, Muradpur and Chhaya Bitan in the outskirts experienced severe water accumulation.

In many locations, rainwater entered homes, shops, commercial buildings and low-lying structures. Overflowing drains spread dirty water mixed with waste onto roads, worsening public inconvenience and creating health concerns. Normal movement became difficult as pedestrians struggled to cross flooded streets and public transport services faced disruption.

The sudden waterlogging caused particular hardship for Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) candidates appearing for examinations. Many students reached their examination centres soaked after walking through flooded roads. Some candidates arrived late due to the adverse conditions, but authorities allowed special consideration in line with examination guidelines.

Professor Abul Basar, principal of Comilla Victoria Government College, said around 2,100 students from eight colleges were sitting for examinations at the centre. Although water accumulated on the college grounds, it did not enter the examination rooms. Students who experienced delays because of the waterlogging were granted additional time following instructions from the education board.

A candidate at the Mahila College centre, Taslima Akter, said many students faced significant difficulties in reaching their examination venues. She explained that several candidates had to walk through rainwater and enter the centre in wet clothes after struggling through the flooded streets.

Professor Ahsan Parvez, chairman of the Comilla Education Board, said waterlogging had affected areas surrounding several examination centres across the six districts under the board. However, no examination hall was flooded. Centre officials were instructed to consider late arrivals sympathetically and provide necessary support to affected candidates.

The heavy rain also affected healthcare services. At Comilla General Hospital, water accumulated on the ground floor and around the emergency department area on Monday morning. Civil Surgeon Dr Ali Nur Mohammad Bashir Ahmed said rainwater entered the hospital premises from outside, but emergency medical services continued through alternative arrangements. Authorities expected the water level to fall once rainfall decreased.

Businesses were also hit by the flooding. At Saladdin intersection, water entered a medicine shop, causing damage and disruption. Shop owner Didarul Alam Sumon said it was the first time in nearly a decade that water had entered his shop.

Local resident Jahirul Islam said water had entered the ground floor of his house. He blamed slow drainage through existing canals and drains for prolonging the waterlogging.

The disruption also triggered a shortage of available transport in several areas. Complaints emerged that some rickshaw and battery-powered auto-rickshaw drivers were charging unusually high fares, leaving many passengers with no choice but to pay extra to reach their destinations.

Comilla City Corporation administrator Md Yusuf Molla Tipu said officials had taken positions near the Government Women’s College examination centre before examinations began to reduce difficulties faced by students. He added that city corporation workers were engaged in cleaning drains and improving water drainage in affected areas.

Residents, however, said the problem was not new. They claimed that many parts of Comilla experience similar waterlogging every year during heavy rainfall due to limited drainage capacity, inadequate maintenance and insufficient cleaning of canals and drains.

They urged authorities to implement long-term measures rather than temporary responses, including improving drainage infrastructure and ensuring regular maintenance to prevent repeated flooding during the monsoon season.