0.3m in distress as rain-triggered floods wrecking havoc across Cox's Bazar

OUR CORRESPONDENT
COX'S BAZAR, July 11: Approximately 0.3 million people have been suffering severe hardships for the past seven days as torrential rainfall, flash floods, landslides and hill runoff continue to batter Cox's Bazar district, leaving vast areas submerged and disrupting normal life.
At least 26 people have died in rain-related incidents, including drowning and landslides, between July 5 and July 10, according to the district administration.
Although floodwaters have begun receding in some areas today (Saturday), large parts of Chakaria, Matamuhuri and Pekua upazilas still remain inundated.
The latest casualty was reported on Friday afternoon when a boat carrying residents to safer ground capsized in Baraitali union of Chakaria after floodwaters engulfed their homes.
Hassnatul Jannat Jharna, 12, daughter of Abdul Malek of Rasulabad village, drowned in the incident, while her two sisters were rescued and admitted to hospital.
On Thursday afternoon, two-year-old Mohammad Wakim, son of Soltan Ahmed, drowned in floodwater at Maiz Kakara village in Chakaria upazila. Earlier the same day, three-year-old Pushpa, son of Ariful Islam, a resident of Charpara village under Konakhali union in the newly formed Matamuhuri upazila, was swept away by floodwater. At dawn, two children from the same family were killed when a rain-triggered landslide buried their house in Machhniakata area of Chakaria.
Mujibur Rahman, a resident of Kakara union in Chakaria, said, "We have rice and vegetables at home, but there is no place to cook. Our earthen stove has gone under floodwater. Right now, we need dry or cooked food. Since floodwater entered our house early Thursday morning, we have not been able to eat properly."
This is not a scene unique to Kakara. Vast areas of Surajpur-Manikpur, Lakshyarchar, Kaiyarbil, Baraitali, Harbang, Fashiakhali, Dulahazara and Khutakhali unions in the upazila have also been inundated. Areas that had knee-deep water on Thursday were submerged in waist-deep water by Friday.
Rising floodwaters have also left livestock owners in distress. Shafiqul Islam, a resident of Deingakata village in Baraitali union, said his five cows are his family's only assets. As the water rose rapidly, he transported the cattle by boat to a safer location, while his family took shelter on the roof of a nearby house.
Mohammad Salequzzaman, chairman of Baraitali Union Parishad, said around 90 percent of the union has been flooded. While some people have taken shelter on higher ground or at relatives' homes, most remain stranded by floodwaters. He stressed that dry food should be delivered to the affected people without delay. A similar situation has unfolded in the unions of Garjaniya, Kachhapia, Kawarkhop, Mithachhari and Eidgarh in Ramu Upazila. Most areas of the upazila's 11 unions are now under water.
Local residents said that nearly 60 percent of Cox's Bazar district has been submerged by floods. Miles of residential areas have gone under water, with floodwater stretching as far as the eye can see. Fresh inundation has also affected more than 50 unions in Ukhiya, Teknaf, Kutubdia and Maheshkhali. The flood situation had already begun deteriorating on Thursday morning in Chakaria and the newly formed Matamuhuri Upazila.
The remaining fatalities were reported from different parts of Cox's Bazar Sadar, Pekua and the Rohingya refugee camps in Ukhiya, where 15 Rohingyas were among those killed.
According to the district administration, floodwaters have inundated around 150 villages across 35 unions in all 10 upazilas of the district. The worst-hit areas are Chakaria, Matamuhuri and Pekua, while low-lying parts of Cox's Bazar Sadar, Ramu, Ukhiya, Teknaf, Maheshkhali, Kutubdia and Eidgaon also remain under water.
Executive Engineer of the Cox's Bazar Water Development Board, Md Nurul Islam, said hill runoff from Bandarban caused the Matamuhuri River to swell rapidly, triggering widespread flooding in Chakaria and Pekua.
"Although the river level has started to fall, it will take more time for floodwaters to drain from the low-lying areas," he said.
Chakaria Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shahin Delwar, who is also serving as the officer in charge of Matamuhuri upazila, said more than 100,000 people remain stranded in the two upazilas.
"About 96 shelters are currently accommodating displaced families. Dry food and other emergency relief are being distributed, while efforts are underway to repair damaged embankments and accelerate drainage," he said.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Mohammad Azad Rahman said official records show that 150,662 people have been affected by floods. Of them, 14,061 people have taken refuge in 648 shelters. However, local administration estimates that nearly 300,000 people remain stranded across the district.
Assistant Meteorologist Mohammad Abdul Hannan of the Cox's Bazar Meteorological Office said more than 700 millimetres of rainfall had been recorded in the district over the past six days until Friday night.
Deputy Commissioner M.A. Mannan said adequate relief materials have been allocated for flood victims, while a district control room remains operational.
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