Two Die from Electrocution in Flooded Chattogram House

Two people have died being electrocuted in a house flooded with rainwater in Chattogram’s Katalganj.

The incident occurred on the ground floor of the three-storey residential building in Abdullah Khan Lane on Monday, according to the police.

The victims were identified as 65-year-old Abu Taher, the building's caretaker, and 38-year-old Md Abul Hossain, a driver.

After two days of incessant rains, the building's ground floor was submerged in water, forcing residents to move to the upper floors, said Nazim Uddin, chief of Pachlaish Police Station.

Taher and Hossain suffered a fatal electric shock when they went to disconnect the building's instant power supply (IPS) unit. The IPS was installed under the staircase and was underwater at the time, according to Md Shahidul Islam, senior officer at the Chandanpura Fire Service.

Residents subsequently rushed them to a local hospital where the doctor pronounced them dead, said OC Nazim.

Heavy rains overnight have caused waterlogging in various parts of Chattogram city. The downpour paired with high tide has led to water overflowing various canals.

The road near the Purbokone office, Bahaddarhat, the Chandgaon residential area, Halishahar, Chawkbazar, Badurtala, Kapasgola, Rahmatganj, Wapda, Shantibag, Anandabazar, various parts of Kattali, Foilatoli, and areas in Baklia and Shulokbohor were submerged on Sunday night.

The city recorded rainfall of 179.4 mm in the 24 hours to Sunday midnight.

Water is overflowing at several points of Mahesh Khal and Hijra Khal. Water has not been able to flow out through the Karnaphuli River due to the tide.

The Chittagong City Corporation has taken to the field with multiple teams to keep the waterways open as waterlogging continues to rise.

Asim Imran, a resident of the Shantibag area in Halishahar, said, “The water levels rose as the night progressed. I sat above the passenger seat on a rickshaw on my way back from the office. I saw the water level at chest height after 10 pm.”

Councillor Mubarak Ali, chairman of the CCC's standing committee on waterlogging, said, “We have received information about rising water levels in many parts of the city. We have multiple teams working to resolve the matter.”

“A control room has been launched. Our teams are visiting the affected areas as details arrive. We are working day and night to keep the waterways open.”

Tidal water has mixed with rain water, said Mubarak. “We tried to open the dams. There is a dam in Mahesh Khal. There is another under the railway bridge of Hijra Khal. Those dams could not be moved. We are working to get the water to flow out.”

Meanwhile, heavy rains create the risk of landslides in the city. Work is underway to evacuate residents at risk from various hills, Mubarak said.