DHAKA: Moderately heavy rain on Monday morning crippled city life, throwing thousands of office-and school-goers in abject misery a day after a general shutdown enforced by opposition politicians.

Deputy Forecasting Officer of the Met office Shahidul Islam told banglanews24.com.bd that they recorded 43-millimeter rain between 6am and 9am in the morning with wind blowing at 12-15 miles per hour.

“This is nothing unique, but usual. There is no chance of depression at this moment,” Islam said.

However, the monsoon rain made life complicated for Ehsan ul Karim, a resident of Mirpur area who got stuck at Kazipara for over two hours for traffic congestion.

“I am on the bus, trying to reach Farmgate. There are several hundred public and private vehicles ahead of the bus at this moment as we are stuck,” Karim told banglanews24.com.bd over cell phone at 10:30am.

On-duty traffic sergeant Shahadat at Mirpur 10 crossing said rainwater logged as the sewerage system could not drain it away. “Now we are struggling to ease the congestion,” he said, adding that those bound for schools and offices were the worst victims of the jam.

Reports from different other parts of the capital, including Jatrabari, Syedabaed, Hatkhola, Motijheel, Dainik Bangla, Paltan, Malibagh, Rampura, Khilkhet, Mohakhali and Mirpur Road said the rush-hour vehicular movement went on slow.

BDST 1211 HRS. JUNE 28, 2010

SF/FA/MUA