Dhaka:At least 69 people have been killed in landslide in the hilly districts, after yesterday’s daylong rain caused by a depression in the Bay.
Twenty-three people were killed in Chittagong while 35 in Rangamati and seven in Bandarban, our local correspondents reported this afternoon. Many among them were women and children.
Besides, four members of Bangladesh Army including two of its officers were killed in landslide in Rangamati, said Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR). Ten army men were also injured in the incident while another remained missing, it said.
In Chittagong, at least 19 deaths were reported from three separate places in Rangunia upazila, our local correspondent reports quoting Md Tawhidul Islam, executive magistrate of the district’s administration, and local union parishad chairmen.
Of the victims, eight people of two families were killed in Rajanagar union while 11 were killed in Islampur union, said Shamsul Alam Talukdar and Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury Milton, chairmen of UPs respectively.
Four more died in Chandnaish upazila, said Mafiz Uddin, assistant superintendent (Anwara circle) of police in the district, told The Daily Star. Police were yet to reach the remote location.
Keucha Kheya Khiyang, 10, Memau Khiyang, 13, Mekhang Khiyang, 50, and Mahiya, 3, of Dhopachhari area in the upazila, are among the deceased.
The upazila’s road communication has been cut off by flooding, the UNO said.
Meanwhile, five people died in separate incidents in Rangunia and Chandnaish upazilas of Chittagong. Of them, two drowned, one died by lightning, one in wall collapse and another died after being electrocuted, Executive Magistrate Tawhidul said.
In Rangamati, 35 people including women and children were killed in separate incidents of landslide in Sadar, Kawkhali, Kaptai and Bilaichhari upazilas, Deputy Commissioner Manjarul Mannan told our local correspondent.
Of them, 19 were killed in different areas including Bedbedi and Reserve Bazar areas of Sadar upazila while nine were killed Kawkhali, five in Kaptai and two in Bilaichhari upazilas.
Identity of all the deceased could not be ascertained. Ruma Akhter, 25, her child Nuri Akhter, 3, Hazera Begum, 33, Sonali Chakma, her son Amiyo Chakma, 33, Mintu Tripura, Liton Mallik, his wife Chumki Mallik, and son Aiyush were among the deceased.
The deceased were: three siblings Setu Barua, 10, Hridoy Barua, 7, and Lata Barua, 2, and Moka Khiyang, 55, his two grandchildren Mamra Ukhiyang, 13, and Keosa Khiyang, 9, and Reba Tripura, 22.
Until last reported, two others – Kamarunnesa Begum, 45, and her daughter Sukhiya Begum, 12 – were still missing. Fire fighters were carrying out rescue operation amid rain.
Yesterday’s depression in the Bay of Bengal influenced the weather all over the country and bringing about incessant rainfall all day long. It inundated Dhaka and Chittagong cities.
