Floods, landslides leave a trail of devastation in Bandarban

BANDARBAN, Aug 12 (Agencies): A significant number of people who sought refuge in shelters due to the devastating floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in Bandarban have now returned to their homes, District Commissioner Shah Mujahid Uddin has said.

During a press briefing held on Friday afternoon, he outlined the overall situation in the district, elaborating on the extent of the destruction caused by the recent torrential rains and floods.

The calamity has left a trail of destruction, displacing families and causing substantial damage to infrastructure.

Currently, around 340 individuals remain in various shelters across the district as they grapple with the aftermath of the disaster. The impact has been dire, with 15,800 families stranded by flooding, and a staggering 15,600 houses being severely damaged, he said.

Quoting the Agriculture Department, the District Commissioner said that the agricultural sector has been hit hard, with 8,253 hectares of cropland succumbing to the deluge.

He also reported 10 deaths resulting from the flood and landslides.

Furthermore, road connections to Thanchi and Ruma upazilas remain severed due to the relentless downpour.

The Department of Public Health Engineering has taken steps for rehabilitation by setting up two mobile water purification units, he said.

Already, 0.2 million (2 lakh) litres of water have been distributed through this initiative. The Bangladesh Army has also joined the relief efforts, distributing an additional 53,800 litres of drinking water, he said.

Additionally, 850 families have received essential dry food provisions, while 962 individuals have been given vital medical care and medications.

The government allocated 168 tonnes of food grains and Tk 0.6 million (6 lakh) for those impacted by the disaster.

Bandarban Hill District Council has earmarked Tk 2.4 million (24 lakh) for each of the 7 upazilas, providing essential funds to aid the recovery process.

After four days of power outage in Bandarban town, electricity supply has been fully restored since Friday.

However, water supply remains disrupted, as efforts to clear debris and sediment from the water treatment plant are still ongoing.

Internet and mobile connectivity in Bandarban have been reinstated.

Meanwhile, incessant rains have destroyed parts of roads linking Bandarban town to remote areas of Ruma, Thanchi and Rowangchhari Upazilas.

Landslides have also left debris on the roads, forcing residents to travel on foot with uprooted utility poles lying in many places.

The scars of the rain and flooding became visible after the weather improved in the southeastern region. Bandarban was totally cut off from the rest of the country with electricity, mobile and internet networks down since Sunday night.

Power connection was restored in the flooded town on Thursday afternoon.

Rain destroys roads along hills in Bandarban leaving Ruma, Thanchi, Rowangchhari cut off

On Friday, some people were using motorcycles to travel.

But they were stopped near the Y Junction area, around 18 kilometres from Chimbuk, as parts of the road to Ruma totally collapsed into the gorge.

The road to Thanchi from Y Junction also suffered severe damage, with parts collapsed in at least two places.