Dhaka: A daylong drizzle left the capital’s traffic system in complete chaos on Thursday, inflicting immense sufferings on the city dwellers.

Light rain started coming down in many parts of the capital in the morning and it continued for the whole day.

Following the rain that also submerged many places, long tailbacks were seen on almost all major streets of the city.  

Vehicles clogged the roads, especially those leading to major shopping malls, as many poured in there for Eid shopping.

Waterlogging was seen in Mirpur-10, Kazipara, Bijoy Sarani, Khejurbagan, Malibagh, Shantinagar, Shantibagh, Merul Badda, Demra, Jatrabari and Shaniakhra areas.  

Commuters waited agonisingly in their vehicles to move forward. However, the vehicles remained standstill at many intersections. If they could run, they ran at snail’s pace.

Different thoroughfares, including Bangla Motor-Mouchak, Farmgate-Shahbagh, Mirpur-New Market, Kakrail-Mouchak, Mouchak-Badda, Rokeya Sarani-Bijoy Sarani-Shewrapara, Dhanmondi-Elephant Road-Shahbagh, Gulistan-Sayadabad-Jatrabari, experienced nagging gridlock following the ceaseless drizzle.

The traffic situation aggregated in the afternoon with the rush of people for their residences to have iftar with the family members.

Even, traffic congestion was seen in different lanes as vehicles could not approach the thoroughfares following the tailbacks.

The rain also hit the footpath vendors just a few days ahead of Eid-ul Fitr as they could not open their stalls.

‘It took me three hours to reach Bangla Motor from Mirpur Section-1 by a bus due to the severe tailback amid rain,’ said Belal Hossain, a private service holder.

He said he had to spend one more hour in another bus to travel to Mouchak from Banglamotor, originally a distance of only 10 minutes.  

Many were seen walking amid rain leaving the public transports to reach their destinations.  

The Met office recorded 17mm rain from 6:00am to 3:00pm on Thursday in the capital.  

Light to moderate rain is likely to occur in the city in the next 24 hours till 6pm Friday following the deep convection which is taking place over the North Bay due to strong monsoon, an official of the Met office told UNB over phone.

Meanwhile, the maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal No three following deep convection in the North Bay.  

A Met Office warning message said squally weather may continue over the North Bay, adjoining coastal area of Bangladesh and the maritime ports.  

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.  

Deputy commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Muntashirul Islam said usually people throng the street in the capital in their thousands on Thursday. ‘Besides, there’s is a heavy rush of people in shopping malls and markets ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.’

He said many vehicles went out of order on street due to rain which led to the traffic jam.