Rain brings relief but disrupts rush hour traffic in Dhaka

Shower experienced in Dhaka City on Wednesday morning. UNB

Dhaka, May 18 - Dhaka saw light rainfall Thursday morning, which helped improve the air quality and provide relief from the heat.

The weather department recorded 50 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, till 6 am, said Bazlur Rashid, a meteorologist of Bangladesh Meteorological Department. 

Several districts had rain since last night, and Dhaka will likely be drenched again in the afternoon and tonight, he said. 

The rain in the morning, however, caused gridlock on several major streets in Dhaka, and city dwellers were stuck on the road during rush hour. 

People, especially office and school goers, struggled to reach their destinations in the rain due to lack of public transport in the morning. 

CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers and rickshaw-pullers were seen charging fares higher than usual. 

People were seen heading towards schools to drop their children with umbrellas and raincoats while traffic police were seen struggling to control vehicle movement during the rain. 

According to the Met Office bulletin, “Rain or thundershower accompanied by temporary west/northwesterly squally wind at the speed of 60-80 kph is likely to occur over the regions of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Pabna, Bogura, Jashore, Kushita, Tangail, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Faridpur, Madaripur, Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Cumilla and Sylhet wherein riverports should hoist riverine warning signal two.” 

Rain or thundershower with temporary west/northwesterly gusty or squally wind at the speed of 45-60 kph is likely to occur elsewhere over the country wherein river ports shall hoist cautionary signal 1, or said. The inland river port warning is valid till 1 pm on May 18. - UNB