Staff Reporter :Flood situation in the country’s southeastern region has taken a worse turn as the waters of overflowing rivers entered dwellings of several localities marooning more than one million people of the areas. Especially, the situation in greater Chittagong region, including Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban and Feni, is highly miserable while flood control embankments started collapsing in different areas due to tidal surge caused by heavy rains for last few days. In a tragic landslide incident, five persons, including two children, were killed on Monday, in Radar Station hill at Baharchhara in Cox’s Bazar. Two people were rescued alive from the debris. The victims were identified as Junu Begum, 28, wife of Khairul Amin, their daughter Niha Moni, 7, Shah Alam, 45, his wife Rokeya Akter,33, and Rina Akter, 9.On information, Bangladesh Army, Border Guard Bangladesh [BGB], fire service and police rushed to the spot and conducted rescue operation with the help of locals.According to Cox’s Bazar Fire Service Station Officer Abdul Majid, some parts of the Radar Station hill collapsed on four houses, including the one of Khairul Amin, around 2:00am. “Two people were rescued after the landslide at a hill in South Baharchharha area around 2:00am. They are Shah Alam, 28 and Nurun Nabi, 22. They have been taken to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital,” he said.The fire official said, “Huge chunks of earth buried four houses at the bottom of the hill. The houses were buried under at least 10 to 12 feet of earth. Nabi was rescued two hours after the landslide while the bodies of Rokeya Akter and Rina Akter were recovered in the afternoon.”Acting Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar Anupam Saha, Additional Police Superintendent Tofayel Ahmed and Civil Surgeon Kamal Uddin visited the spot after the accident.District administration sources said, the situation in Chakaria, Ramu, Pekua, Teknaf and Sadar upazilas under Cox’s Bazar district is deteriorating where about 3 lakh people of 150 villages are now marooned in flood water.Metrological Department said, the heavy rainfall is likely to occur in southeastern part which may continue in next 24 hours. As a result, the flood situation in some areas of Feni, Bandarban, Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar districts may further deteriorate.As an impact of flood, the Cox’s Bazar -Teknaf road remained closed for the second consecutive day yesterday suspending all household and business activities. The transports are using Marine Drive as an alternative route. Local sources said, two persons were flashed away in flood water in Ramu. Six fishermen were reportedly missing along with fishing boats in Saint Martin Island. Besides, one fisherman drowned and 10 others were rescued alive in a boat capsize incident at Sonadia Island.Different flood-related water borne diseases, including diarrhoea, cholera and cold have spread in the flood-affected areas. The normal life of the people in the affected areas has been disrupted in absence of regular supply of daily essentials. Absence of coordination among peoples’ representatives and district administration is blamed by the affected people.Water is flowing above danger level in Matamuhuri and Bankkhali rivers. The embankment on Matamuhuri River has been collapsed in two points. Several thousand people have taken shelter in the shelter centres. All educational institutions have been closed for an indefinite period.On the other hand, the Brahmaputra and Jamuna are in rising trend which may likely to continue in next 48 hours, Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre sources said. “In this situation, the passenger launch service was suspended in most riverine routes, including Sadarghat-Mawa, Char Jannat, Kawrakandi, Paturia and Doulatdia from 6:00pm due to rough weather and high tide,” Joynal Abedin, Joint Director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority said yesterday. Officials of MET Department said the monsoon depression that moved slightly westwards over North Bay and adjoining Bangladesh coast and lay centered at about 10 km east of Payra Port, is likely to intensify further.Bandarban district administration officials said Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers are overflowing due to the huge onrush of water from the hills and many villages went under water. As an impact, several localities, including Army Para, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Islampur, and Memberpara areas in Bandarban town and Lama upazila Sadar area have been flooded. The Bandarban-Chittagong road communication has remained suspended for last two days.In Feni, a huge area of farmlands has gone under water following heavy rain, onrush of water from the upstream and the collapse of the embankment on the Muhuri River in different areas. Local people alleged that the embankment was damaged because of negligence of Water Development Board.Feni Agricultural Development Corporation officials said about 15,000 hectare farmlands were inundated. Against this backdrop, about 180 educational institutions have been closed in Feni due to flood water. Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal number three. Under influence of depression, squally weather may affect North Bay, adjoining coastal area of Bangladesh and the maritime ports. It is likely to intensify further, the met office forecast said.Besides, as per Inland River ports Warning, in association with rain/thunder showers temporary south or south easterly squalls speed 60-80 kph is likely to occur over some regions, including Noakhali, Comilla, Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar wherein river ports shall hoist riverine warning signal number two.Experts said, the main reason of flash flood is rainfall. As Bangladesh is a downstream country it is flooded, if the heavy downpour occurs in the upstream of Brahmaputra and Meghna river basins.The largest rainfall takes place in Cherrapunji every year causing water swallowing to cross the danger mark at many places in the Brahmaputra river basin, they said.
