Staff Reporter :
The death toll in the massive landslides that struck three hill districts-Rangamati, Bandarban and Chittagong early Tuesday rose to 149 on Wednesday disaster ministry confirmed the death figure.
Rescue teams waded through mud-caked debris for the second day on Wednesday looking for scores of people still missing. They recovered 19 more bodies while expressing fear that some victims’ remains might not ever be found.
It was the deadliest landslides in the hill region since one on a similar scale in 2007 that killed around 127 people. At least 20 consequent landslides turned the region virtual horror zone.
Massive landslides triggered by heavy rain wrecked havoc across the hill region early Tuesday also destroying many houses and uprooting tress. The landslides also left many people injured. Locals said many people were still missing.
Officials feared the death toll could rise as rescuers could not reach the remote parts of the region where telephone and transport links had been cut.
Meanwhile, heavy rain continues across the hill region obstructing the through search and rescue operations. Earlier the rescue operations at the sites of landslides were suspended due to heavy rain.
According to unofficial sources, the highest 101 people were killed in Rangamati, 31 in Chittagong, six in Badarban and two in Cox’s Bazar districts. Besides, one person was killed in Khagrachari district.
Of the 19, eight bodies were recovered in Chittagong, Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar yesterday.
Of the new 19 deceased, M Selim Miah Mistri, 35, and his daughter Tisha Mani, 3, were from Paschim Satgharia Para village in Teknaf upazila. They were killed in landslide in Cox’s Bazar, triggered by downpour early Wednesday.
However, the identities of the rest new victims are yet to be known.
Road communications between Rangamati-Bandarban and Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar-Bandarban remained suspended as many roads went under gushing hill water.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader reached Rangamati Wednesday morning to visit the affected areas.
The Met Office sources forecast heavy down pours in face of as trough low over West Bengal and adjoining area that extends up to Northwest Bay.
Monsoon is active over Southern part of Bangladesh and fairly active over the rest part of the country and moderate to strong over North Bay, the Met Office forecast on Wednesday.
Light to moderate rain/thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty/squally wind is likely to occur at most places over Barisal and Chittagong divisions and at many places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over Chittagong and Barisal divisions.
Officer-In-Charge at the Disaster Management Ministry Control Room Naznin Shamima said at least 136 people were found to have died so far while several remained missing as salvage campaign resumed.
The official reported highest 98 deaths in Rangamati, including the death of four army personnel, two being commissioned officers, 31 in Chittagong, six in Badarban and one in Cox’s Bazar.
She said over 4,000 people were moved to different government shelters as the landslides ravaged their homes or they were exposed to danger of fresh such mudslides.
Witnesses said the landslide pushed 15 army men down to around 30 feet, killing the four instantly while a military spokesman in Dhaka said an army major and a captain were among four of their dead personnel.
Officials said many of the victims were from poor ethnic minority tribal communities in the remote hill district of Rangamati where an overnight power blackout since Tuesday and its snapped road communications with rest of the country enhanced the miseries of the residents.
The incessant rains caused a water logging in a vast part of the port city and submerged a number of coastal villages apart from triggering the landslides.
Experts and environmentalists attributed the latest spell of landslides to illegal hill cuts exposing the sandy hills to quick erosion during protracted rains.
The death toll in the massive landslides that struck three hill districts-Rangamati, Bandarban and Chittagong early Tuesday rose to 149 on Wednesday disaster ministry confirmed the death figure.
Rescue teams waded through mud-caked debris for the second day on Wednesday looking for scores of people still missing. They recovered 19 more bodies while expressing fear that some victims’ remains might not ever be found.
It was the deadliest landslides in the hill region since one on a similar scale in 2007 that killed around 127 people. At least 20 consequent landslides turned the region virtual horror zone.
Massive landslides triggered by heavy rain wrecked havoc across the hill region early Tuesday also destroying many houses and uprooting tress. The landslides also left many people injured. Locals said many people were still missing.
Officials feared the death toll could rise as rescuers could not reach the remote parts of the region where telephone and transport links had been cut.
Meanwhile, heavy rain continues across the hill region obstructing the through search and rescue operations. Earlier the rescue operations at the sites of landslides were suspended due to heavy rain.
According to unofficial sources, the highest 101 people were killed in Rangamati, 31 in Chittagong, six in Badarban and two in Cox’s Bazar districts. Besides, one person was killed in Khagrachari district.
Of the 19, eight bodies were recovered in Chittagong, Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar yesterday.
Of the new 19 deceased, M Selim Miah Mistri, 35, and his daughter Tisha Mani, 3, were from Paschim Satgharia Para village in Teknaf upazila. They were killed in landslide in Cox’s Bazar, triggered by downpour early Wednesday.
However, the identities of the rest new victims are yet to be known.
Road communications between Rangamati-Bandarban and Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar-Bandarban remained suspended as many roads went under gushing hill water.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader reached Rangamati Wednesday morning to visit the affected areas.
The Met Office sources forecast heavy down pours in face of as trough low over West Bengal and adjoining area that extends up to Northwest Bay.
Monsoon is active over Southern part of Bangladesh and fairly active over the rest part of the country and moderate to strong over North Bay, the Met Office forecast on Wednesday.
Light to moderate rain/thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty/squally wind is likely to occur at most places over Barisal and Chittagong divisions and at many places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over Chittagong and Barisal divisions.
Officer-In-Charge at the Disaster Management Ministry Control Room Naznin Shamima said at least 136 people were found to have died so far while several remained missing as salvage campaign resumed.
The official reported highest 98 deaths in Rangamati, including the death of four army personnel, two being commissioned officers, 31 in Chittagong, six in Badarban and one in Cox’s Bazar.
She said over 4,000 people were moved to different government shelters as the landslides ravaged their homes or they were exposed to danger of fresh such mudslides.
Witnesses said the landslide pushed 15 army men down to around 30 feet, killing the four instantly while a military spokesman in Dhaka said an army major and a captain were among four of their dead personnel.
Officials said many of the victims were from poor ethnic minority tribal communities in the remote hill district of Rangamati where an overnight power blackout since Tuesday and its snapped road communications with rest of the country enhanced the miseries of the residents.
The incessant rains caused a water logging in a vast part of the port city and submerged a number of coastal villages apart from triggering the landslides.
Experts and environmentalists attributed the latest spell of landslides to illegal hill cuts exposing the sandy hills to quick erosion during protracted rains.
