50 died in Rangamati, Chittagong, Bandarban landslides

At least 50 people were died in series of landslides, wall collapses and other accidents triggered by torrential rains at Bandarban, Rangamati and Chittagong districts on Tuesday.

Of them, 35 persons including six army officers were died in landslides at Rangamati district headquarters, Kaptai, Kawkhali and Bilaichari upazilas, said Deputy Commissioner Md Manzarul Mannan of the district.

Of the deceased 10 were identified as Nuria Akter, Ayus Mallik, Ruma Akter, Amit Chakma, Hazera Begum, Liton Mallik, Chumki Das, Sonali Chakma, Niki Marma and Anuching Marma.

Besides, nine people were died in landslide, wall collapse and lightning at Chandanish, Rangunia and the port city in Chittagong.

Of them, four landslide victim of Chandanish upazila were identified as Mahi Akter, Mothao Thiang, Mao Thiang and Theo Chap Thiang.

On the other hand, six people were died in landslides at Bandarban district headquarters, said DC Dilip Kumar Banik of the district.

Four of the deceased were identified as Reba Tripura, Shuva Barua, Mithu Barua and Lata Barua.

Members of fire service, law enforcement agencies and others concerned were carrying rescue operation at the spots, said sources.

Police warned that the death toll would likely rise as emergency workers reached remote parts of the affected area, where telephone and transport links had been cut.

"The recovery work is still going on," the head of the Department of Disaster Management Reaz Ahmed said. Most of the deaths occurred in two districts, Rangamati and Bandarban, which the meteorological office said had been pounded by heavy rains since early Monday.

Bazlur Rashid, a weather official, said Rangamati had been pounded by 343 millimetres (13.5 inches) of rain on Monday.

"It is still going on today," he said. Heavy monsoon rains also pounded the capital Dhaka and Chittagong, a major port city, disrupting traffic movement for hours.

According to sources, at least of 259 people were died in rain-induced landslides, mud-slide and wall collapse in the port city and its suburbs over the last 19 years since 1998.

The landslides of June 11 in 2007 left the highest number of 127 people died. Besides, 11 persons were died at Matijharna on August 18 in 2008, 17 at Batali Hill in 2011, seven at Akbar Shah Colony in 2012, two at Tankir Pahar in Lalkhan Bazar in 2013 and six were died in a landslide at Bayezid and Lalkhan Bazar areas in 2015.

Source: dailysun