A couple along with their 15-month-old son died as a large chunk of mud collapsed on their house in Chamelibagh residential area in Sylhet city on Monday morning. Sylhet has been experiencing heavy downpour for the past few days which has already inundated low-lying areas of the district.
Landslide triggered by heavy rain is common in our country during the monsoon season between June and September. A good number of people have died in landslides in the hill areas of Chattogram, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachari districts as well as parts of Sylhet following incessant rain there.
Hill cutting, deforestation, unplanned housing and drainage system, unplanned Jhum cultivation and effects of climate change were identified as major factors for natural and man-made disasters like landslides in Sylhet, Chittagong Hill Tracts and other areas of the country. Mindless hill cutting and felling of trees over the years has made the hills risky, causing disasters.
Landslide triggered by heavy
rain is common in our country
during the monsoon season
between June and September
People living in those areas are still facing natural and man-made disasters as no effective steps have been taken in this regard yet. In a bid to prevent such manmade disasters, different environmental issues, including hill cutting, leasing and grabbing of forest and hill land, came up for discussion.
But hill cutting is still going on unabated as the demand for plots and flats in the hill areas is very high. Many residential and commercial buildings, resorts and hotels have been developed, cutting down hills over the last two decades, with the authorities concerned turning a blind eye to this mindless act.
Meteorological Department forecast that the intensity of rainfall will increase over the country from today (Tuesday). The local administrations of the hill regions should immediately take a series of measures, including awareness campaign, to save human lives and properties from disasters.
The government should do everything possible for the well-being of the hill people. Apart from government and non-government initiatives, all should come forward to prevent such disasters like landslides in their respective areas.
