Staff Reporter :At least 11 people were killed due to landslides, floodwaters and tree collapses in Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban districts on Friday.The flood situation in Cox’s Bazar district aggravated rendering about 10 lakhs of people marooned. The sufferings of the affected people also intensified due to torrential rains for several days in some places. The current flashflood also caused damage to many dwelling houses and standing crops, according to our correspondents and agency reports. In Cox’s Bazar, two people — Futu, 18 of Juyaria Nala area and Amir Hossian, 45, of Kaoyar Kup area– were killed in a landslide in Juyaria Nala and Kaoyar Kup areas of Ramu upazila in the morning.Besides, three people — Sanwara Begum,12, Khodeza Begum,30, of Kacchapia union and a 60-year-old unidentified man — drowned in floodwater in the upazila.Meanwhile, two women drowned as the boat carrying them capsized in a canal due to strong current at Gojania in the morning. The deceased could not yet be identified.In Teknaf upazila, a woman and her minor daughter were killed as a tree fell on them in Saint Martin’s island at noon. Their identities could not be known.Jahangir Alam, district relief and rehabilitation officer of Department of Disaster Management and Relief of Cox’s Bazar, confirmed reporters about the deaths.Bandarban correspondent reports: Two siblings — Alif, 12, son of Abdur Razzak and his sister Meem, 10, — were killed and their parents injured in a landslide at Banarupa Para in Bandarban municipality area early Friday. Officer-in-Charge of Bandarban Sadar Police Station Imtiaz Ahmed said the incident took place in the area when a portion of a hill crushed on their house at the foot of the hill around 3 am, leaving the two children dead on the spot and their parents injured.Firefighters and local people recovered the bodies and rescued two others after frantic efforts. The injured were taken to Sadar Hospital. On Friday the local administration started evacuating the residents of Batali Hill in Moti Jharna area in the city to avert possible loss of lives in landsides during the rainy season. A team of the local administration, led by executive magistrates Ruhul Amin and Abu Hassan started the evacuation drive around 12 noon. Before the drive initiated, water and power lines of the areas were delinked.Many families ignoring the official direction live in hilly areas in the city. Mostly a section of low-income people, with the assistance of local influential people, live in those areas permanently. Every year, many people lose their live in landslides during the rainy season.In June 11, 2007, at least 127 people were killed in separate incidents of landslide in different parts of the city. In August 28, 2008, at least 11 people were killed in Moti Jharna landslide, in July 1, 2011, at least 17 people were killed in Batali Hill in wall collapse and in June 17 in 2012, one person was killed in wall collapse in city’s Firoz Shah Colony Some 25 hills have been identified as risky in the port city for dwelling. Chittagong City Corporation, Railway, WASA, Chittagong University, Public Works and AK Khan Group, Ispahani Group and other private organisations are the owners of the hills. Meanwhile, Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal no three, in a scale of 10.Due to vigorous monsoon, steep pressure gradient persists over North Bay, a met office weather bulletin said.Under its influence, squally weather may affect the North Bay, adjoining coastal area of Bangladesh and the maritime ports. All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice. The low over Bangladesh and adjoining area persists. Monsoon is active over Bangladesh and vigorous over North Bay.Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at most places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places over Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong divisions and moderately heavy falls at places over Rangpur and Sylhet divisions.
