Shantimoy Chakma, Rangamati
Vast areas of three districts of Chattogram Hill Tracts – Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari – remained submerged under water on Saturday after flash floods triggered by incessant downpour for more than a week inundated large areas two days ago, leaving thousands homeless overnight. As downpour continues with rare intervals in all the three districts, water levels of Sangu, Chengi and Matamuhuri Rivers - three main rivers flowing beside the hilly districts - is still increasing, crossing the danger level two days ago.
Many villages, schools, business establishments and vast croplands got submerged under water in the districts. In Rangamati, two persons were killed in a landslide at Karigorpara on Rangamati-Bandarban road in Raikhali union under Kaptai upazila on Saturday morning as a large portion of the district including entire Baghaichhari upazila remained submerged for last two days after a flash flood, leaving 250 families homeless and submerging 10 schools.
The deceased were identified as Atal Barua, 50, son of late Dulal Barua of Noapara under Rawzan upazila in Chattogram; and Asamong Marma, 42, son of Tohla Chai Marma of Karigorpara village at Raikhali union under Kaptai upazila. The incident took place when a big chunk of earth fell on a moving three-wheeler auto-rickshaw at a place adjacent to Karigorpara on Rangamati-Bandarban road around 11:00am, killing the two on the spot.
On information, firefighters from Rawzan upazila fire station and police from Chandraghona police station rushed to spot and rescued the bodies with the help of local people on Saturday, said Md Ashraf Uddin, officer in-charge of Chandraghona police station. Kaptai upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Ashraf Ahmed Rasel and chairman of Kaptai upazila Mofizul Islam visited the spot soon after the incident.
Meanwhile, Rangamati district administration has opened 21 shelter centres with the hotline land phone number of 0351-63750 in the district town, and asked the people those who are living in the risky places with loud speaker to move to safer places or shelter centres, said NDC Uttam Kumar Das. On Friday, two persons were reportedly washed away by the current of Kaptai Lake’s water on Friday.
The persons were identified as Md Rubel, 27, a driver of local engine boat and hailed from Landugu upazila; and Bijhu Ram Chakma, 67, hailed from Ujjangchhari village under Bhusionchhara union at Barkal upazila, said sources. On the other hand, inter-district road communication between Rangamati-Bandarban has been snapped due to inundation of roads and landslides at different points.
Earlier on Monday, two persons including a minor boy were killed in a landslide at Kalabagan Mali Colony at Karnaphuli Paper Mills area in the same upazila.
“A vast tract of croplands, business establishments and government offices went under water in the upazila as the water of Mynee River crossed the danger mark,” said Baghaichhari upazila nirbahi officer Ahsan Habib Jitu on Saturday, adding the water level is still raising.
Meanwhile, the upazila administration has opened up some 24 shelter centres where 250 families from different villages of eight unions of Baghaichhari took refuge. “They are being provided with dried foods, rice, edible oil and pulse,” said the UNO. Apprehending deterioration of flash flood situation and landslide, the upazila administration asked the locals to stay cautious through announcements by loud speakers.
UNO Ahsan Habib said, “We already have distributed relief among the flood-affected people in the upazila. As we have adequate stock of relief, if necessary, we will provide more relief further.” Meanwhile, at least 200 houses at Porabari, Gorosthan and Arabunia areas in Bhusionchhara union got submerged by flash flood due to onrush of water from hilly upstream in Barkal upazila.
“Around 200 houses in my union submerged and roads and food bridges were damage,” said Bhusionchhara union parishad chairman Mamunur Rashid Mamun. In Bandarban, road communication has been snapped since over the past one week due to the incessant downpour. Parts of the countryside and most of the areas of the hill town got inundated as water of Sangu River also crossed, and is still flowing above, the danger level, leaving hundreds of people homeless. The incessant rainfall is still continuing unabated.
Areas mostly affected due to the flash flood are Mogbazar, Ujanipara, Moidhompara, Meerpara, Kalaghata and Balaghata. In Khagrachhari, similar situation was also prevailing as flash flood inundated various areas. Road communications at some upazilas were disrupted due to damage of roads by landslides.
