Torrential rain inundates Dhaka

According to Met office, it is the rain of the Kalboishakhi season, customary to this time of the year

FT ONLINE

A nor’wester accompanied by heavy rain and thunderstorm swept over the capital on Sunday morning, affecting the normal life, though it was a public holiday.

The seasonal storm hit around 8:30am with a downpour causing waterlogging on many major roads of the capital, including in Dhanmondi, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Mirpur, Shewrapara and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar areas.

The gusty wind with thunderstorm was blowing packing a speed of 62 kph while 55mm of rain was recorded around 12:00pm, Abdul Alim, a meteorologist at Bangladesh Metrological Department said.

However, many city dwellers welcomed the rain as it came after two days of sultry weather, bringing down the mercury level.

The clouds kept the sun out for much of the morning casting a night-like ambience over the capital before a nor’wester swept over.

Amid the bad weather, the authorities concerned have suspended the plying of launches and steamers from Sadarghat Launch Terminal until further notice.

The Met Office forecast in the morning said rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at a few places over Sylhet division and at one or two places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong divisions in the next 24 hours till 6:00am Monday.