100 000 people stranded as highest rainfall in 60 years hits Rangpur, Bangladesh

Extremely heavy rainfall hit the city of Rangpur, Bangladesh over the weekend, paralyzing normal life across the city and stranding more than 100 000 people. In just 12 hours, the city registered more rainfall than in the entire month of September (433 mm/17 inches vs. 315 mm/12.4 inches).

In just 12 hours to 10:00 LT on Sunday, September 27, the district of Rangpur was hit by a record 433 mm (17 inches) of rain.

According to Rangpur Met Office, this is a record rainfall in the last 60 years.

Most of the district was under the water Saturday to Monday, September 28, including croplands, roads, and houses in at least 60 wards, leaving 100 000 people stranded.

500 000 people were under knee to waist-deep water after the district's water drainage system collapsed, with firefighters rescuing them since Sunday morning.

Many residents said they've never experienced this type of rainfall and flood in their lifetime.

"Everything is floating in the water. I could not save anything. The rain filled the road and was pouring into the house so fast at 2 am, everything was washed away before I realized anything. Then there was no electricity, no charge on the phone, no drinking water, no use of water," one of the residents said.

The rainy period in Rangpur lasts approximately 8.1 months per year, from March to November, with peak rainfall at the start of July. 

The rainiest month is June with a total of 481 mm (18.9 inches), followed by 461 mm (18.1 inches) in July, 352 mm (13.8 inches) in August, 315 mm (12.4 inches) in September and 154 mm (6 inches) in October.

This makes the 433 mm (17 inches) of rain in 12 hours to 08:00 LT on September 27 more than a month's worth of September rain.

Featured image credit: Travel Nature