Hundreds waterlogged in Comilla as heavy rain, rising Gomti River threaten flooding

Hundreds of residents in the low-lying char areas of Comilla are facing severe waterlogging as the district has been drenched with 274 millimetres of rainfall over the past three days.

On Wednesday morning alone, 56 millimetres of rain were recorded by 6am, and with more heavy rainfall forecasted in the next 24 hours, concerns are mounting over the potential for widespread flooding.

The Gomti River, which originates from India’s Tripura state, has swollen significantly due to heavy rainfall in its source region.

The rising water levels have already inundated riverbanks in Comilla, flooding hundreds of homes and leaving thousands of residents in distress.

The water level of the Gomti is now nearing the danger mark, with authorities warning that it could exceed this level at any moment, posing a serious risk to the area.

Officials are particularly worried about the 85-kilometre-long Gomti embankment, which stretches from Kotokbazar to Daudkandi in Comilla Sadar upazila.

The embankment is under threat of collapse due to the surging waters.

In addition to the threat of flooding, heavy rains have caused severe waterlogging in many areas of Comilla City, submerging and damaging approximately 4,000 acres of vegetable crops along the riverbanks.

Khan Mohammad Waliuzzaman, executive engineer of the Comilla Water Development Board, said that efforts are underway to reinforce vulnerable spots along the riverbanks to prevent further collapse. 

“This is the highest volume of water we’ve seen from upstream in the Gomti in the past 15 years,” Waliuzzaman said, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the current situation.

Source: UNB