Hundreds of residents in Comilla’s low-lying char areas are grappling with severe waterlogging as the district has been hit by 274 millimeters of rainfall over the past three days. The situation worsened on Wednesday morning when 56 millimeters of rain were recorded by 6 am, with forecasts predicting more heavy rainfall within the next 24 hours, raising fears of widespread flooding.
The Gomti River, which flows from India’s Tripura state, has swollen significantly due to the heavy upstream rainfall. The rising water levels have already breached riverbanks in Comilla, flooding hundreds of homes and putting thousands of residents at risk. The water level of the Gomti is now approaching the danger mark, with authorities warning that it could surpass this level, potentially leading to catastrophic flooding.
Officials are particularly concerned about the 85-kilometer-long Gomti embankment, which stretches from Kotokbazar to Daudkandi in Comilla Sadar upazila. The embankment is under serious threat of collapse due to the surging river waters.
In addition to the flood threat, heavy rains have caused severe waterlogging throughout Comilla City, submerging approximately 4,000 acres of vegetable crops along the riverbanks. Khan Mohammad Waliuzzaman, executive engineer of the Comilla Water Development Board, stated that efforts are being made to reinforce vulnerable spots along the riverbanks to prevent further collapse. He emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting, “This is the highest volume of water we’ve seen from upstream in the Gomti in the past 15 years.”
