Shawdesh Desk: Heavy rainfall since Friday night, due to active monsoon, hit hard the port city of Chattogram submerging most of the city’s low-lying areas.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department in a forecast on Saturday said that the heavy rains might trigger landslides in Chattogram division.

In the wake of the downpours and the Met Office warning about possible landslides in the region, the Chattogram district administration has launched a campaign since Saturday morning to make people aware of the possible dangers, said additional deputy commissioner revenue Md Delwar Hossain.

‘Loudhailers are being used so that the people living in different hill pockets risking their lives can leave for safer shelters to avert any casualty,’ he added.

He further said that the local administration had already requested the illegal dwellers to leave for the nearby cyclone shelters, which had declared government primary school as cyclone shelters.

From Sunday they will start evicting those who have not moved to any cyclone shelter, said the ADC.

People were already seen leaving their houses on risky hills in some areas in the city, said officials.

Due to active monsoon, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at some places in Barishal and Chattogram divisions during the next 24 hours commencing 10:00am Saturday, according to a Met Office bulletin.

Patenga Met Office said that light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at most places.

It said that steep pressure gradient persisted over the north Bay of Bengal, adding that under its influence squally weather was likely to affect the maritime ports, the north Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh.

Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra were advised to keep hoisted local cautionary Signal Number 3.

All fishing boats and trawlers over the north Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice.

The incessant rainfalls that still continued till Saturday night heightened the sufferings of people of the port city and adjoining areas.

Many of the city’s low-lying areas, including Shulakbahar, Bahaddarhat, Pahartali, Kalamia Bazar, Kalurghat, Sholoshohor Gate No. 2, Agrabad, Prabartak Circle, Chawkbazar, Muradpur, Chandgaon and Bakalia, went under knee-high or waist-deep water.

The commuters, including office-goers, students and factory workers, suffered immensely due to the non-stop downpour.

Rain water also inundated many residential houses and business firms in the low-lying areas, leaving people marooned.

Patenga Met Office assistant meteorologist Abdul Hannan said that 54.6 milliliter rains were recorded in Chattogram for the night from 12.00am to 9am on Saturday.

Rain water that got blocked into Akteruzzaman Flyover caused sufferings to the vehicles and the users.

Earlier in 2007, at least 127 people were killed in a massive landslide in Chattogram while another landslide in 2017 claimed at least 167 lives in greater Chattogram.