bdnews24.com :
Deforestation, construction in vulnerable areas, earthquake or naturally induced cracks in the soil and torrential rains are responsible for the heavy toll taken by landslides in Bangladesh, experts say.
These experts have urged the government to develop a master plan to identify the risks from these natural disasters and minimise their impact.
More than one hundred people have been killed after incessant rain in the hill areas of Chittagong, Rangamati and Bandarban resulted in landslides. The number of casualties has now exceeded the toll from the 2007 landslides.
Landslides and their corresponding casualties have been a common feature of the monsoon season in thee hill areas for the past few years.
In addition to identifying risk zones before the monsoon season, the government should take initiatives to relocate people from the base of hills, create a special force to fill up cracks and construct canals for water removal, experts said.
But, first it should prevent deforestation, halt the cutting of hills and train competent rescue teams to deal with such natural disasters, according to one geologist who is an expert in Geological information Systems (GIS).
Dhaka University Geology Department Professor Syed Humayun Akhter told bdnews24.com that tremors at various points had led to the development of thin cracks in the Chittagong and Sylhet areas of the country. The possibility of landslides was magnified by these cracks, he said.
“Heavy rainfall puts water pressure on these cracks. The slipperiness and the downward force of gravity leads to these landslides.”
Prof Humayun cited his experience researching ’15-20′ at-risk areas for landslides in Chittagong, Khagrachari, Rangamati, Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar.
“We have identified some areas through remote sensing,” he said. “Some work has been done without the government but the identification of dangerous areas must be done by the government.
“Homes in at-risk areas near the foot of the mountain must be relocated. Lead nets need to be set up in certain areas to protect the road from landslides … we must avoid constructing ill-planned roads in such mountainous areas.”
Deforestation, construction in vulnerable areas, earthquake or naturally induced cracks in the soil and torrential rains are responsible for the heavy toll taken by landslides in Bangladesh, experts say.
These experts have urged the government to develop a master plan to identify the risks from these natural disasters and minimise their impact.
More than one hundred people have been killed after incessant rain in the hill areas of Chittagong, Rangamati and Bandarban resulted in landslides. The number of casualties has now exceeded the toll from the 2007 landslides.
Landslides and their corresponding casualties have been a common feature of the monsoon season in thee hill areas for the past few years.
In addition to identifying risk zones before the monsoon season, the government should take initiatives to relocate people from the base of hills, create a special force to fill up cracks and construct canals for water removal, experts said.
But, first it should prevent deforestation, halt the cutting of hills and train competent rescue teams to deal with such natural disasters, according to one geologist who is an expert in Geological information Systems (GIS).
Dhaka University Geology Department Professor Syed Humayun Akhter told bdnews24.com that tremors at various points had led to the development of thin cracks in the Chittagong and Sylhet areas of the country. The possibility of landslides was magnified by these cracks, he said.
“Heavy rainfall puts water pressure on these cracks. The slipperiness and the downward force of gravity leads to these landslides.”
Prof Humayun cited his experience researching ’15-20′ at-risk areas for landslides in Chittagong, Khagrachari, Rangamati, Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar.
“We have identified some areas through remote sensing,” he said. “Some work has been done without the government but the identification of dangerous areas must be done by the government.
“Homes in at-risk areas near the foot of the mountain must be relocated. Lead nets need to be set up in certain areas to protect the road from landslides … we must avoid constructing ill-planned roads in such mountainous areas.”
