Landslide triggered by torrential rain kills 76, injures 200 in Ctg
Tuesday, 12 June 2007
FE Report
At least 76 people were killed and more than 200 injured Monday by electrocution and landslide, triggered by torrential rains in the port city of Chittagong, district officials said.
The downpour paralysed life and business activities in the port city on the day.
The number of casualties was confirmed by the district administration until 8:00 pm Monday. The Chittagong city experienced a rainfall of 267 millimetre in 24 hours ending at 6pm Monday.
Sources in Chittagong said the death toll might reach 100 or more as rescue operation is going on to find survivors.
The victims of landslide were mainly residents of houses constructed at the foot of small hills inside the city. Several houses were buried under the tonnes of mud loosened by the downpour.
District relief and rehabilitation officer Mohammed Ruhul Amin told the FE Monday afternoon that the death toll might rise further as they were receiving reports on missing from different hilly areas.
"The relief work and rescue operation by army and fire brigade are continuing at different parts of Chittagong district," Amin added.
The rescuers issued alerts by loudspeaker, asking local people to move to safety from foot of the hills.
Some 23 were killed at Lebu Bagan near Chittagong Cantonment, eight at Pahartali, nine at Kusumbagh near Goribullah Shah Mazar, five at Chittagong University area, seven at Kumira under Sitakund Upazila, two at Motijorna near Lalkan Bazar and others at different hilly areas of the district.
However, the injured were admitted to Chittagong Military Combined Hospital (CMCH) and Chittagong Medical College and Hospital.
Activities at the country's premier seaport of Chittagong were suspended from early Monday morning. The delivery of cargoes also remained suspended.
Traffic in the city came to near halt as more than two-thirds of the port city was submerged by rain water.
City's low-lying areas like Chawk Bazar, Bakolia, Muradpur, Bohaddarhat, Halishahar, north and south Agrabad, Boropul, Halishahar Housing Society, Motherbari and other areas went under knee to waist-high water.
Sources at the Met Office said incessant rainfall that coincided with sea tides submerged a wide area of the port city.
The presence of officials at both private and public offices was thin on the day. Attendance of students at different educational institutions was also very poor.
Most shops and shopping malls in the city remained closed.
Flight operation to and from Shah Amanat International Airport (SAIA) remained suspended due to the inclement weather.
Sources said seven flights from Dhaka and Kolkata were scheduled to land, but none of them could touch down because of bad weather.
Only one flight, which took off from Oman, landed at the SAIA on the day.
The heavy rain and mudslides have partially disrupted road and rail communications of Chittagong with the rest of the country.
Cox's Bazar and Mongla seaports would continue to hoist local cautionary signal No. 3, as the areas were under the influence of southwestern monsoons.
Met officials said the rainfall might further intensify over the next 24 hours.
Kalurghat radio station in the city suspended its transmission as rainwater entered the station.
A coordination cell has been set up at the Divisional Commissioner's office where army, BDR, police and local administration were coordinating the rescue and relief operations.
District Officials claimed that they had received cash Tk 1.3 million from the government to rehabilitate the affected families.
Some 200 tonnes of rice, 50 kilograms (KG) of chira, 21-Kg gur molasses and 20 Kg biscuits have also been allocated for distribution among the affected people.
The protection embankment at Sitakund has been damaged due to the heavy rain flooding the adjoining areas.
President Prof. Iajuddin Ahmed, Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed and Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed also enquired about the rescue and relief operations in the disaster area.
The chief adviser Monday expressed deep shock at the loss of lives in the landslide in Chittagong district following heavy downpour over last few days.
In a condolence message, the chief adviser conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls.
He asked the officials concerned to take quick and appropriate steps for rescue of the injured and ensure their proper treatment.
He also directed the district administration to take immediate measures for carrying out relief and rehabilitation operation and shift the distressed people into temporary shelters, if necessary.
Shipping Adviser MA Matin was scheduled to visit Chittagong at 5:0pm but he could not reach there until filing this report at 8:0 pm Monday.
Met officials said heavy rains at the onset of the monsoon season have also paralysed much of Bangladesh since Sunday morning, and raised fears of flash floods in low-lying areas.
Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal number three.
Under its influence low lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barisal, Chandpur, Barguna, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore inland and chars are likely to be inundated by tidal water, said a Met office bulletin.
All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to keep close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.
At least 76 people were killed and more than 200 injured Monday by electrocution and landslide, triggered by torrential rains in the port city of Chittagong, district officials said.
The downpour paralysed life and business activities in the port city on the day.
The number of casualties was confirmed by the district administration until 8:00 pm Monday. The Chittagong city experienced a rainfall of 267 millimetre in 24 hours ending at 6pm Monday.
Sources in Chittagong said the death toll might reach 100 or more as rescue operation is going on to find survivors.
The victims of landslide were mainly residents of houses constructed at the foot of small hills inside the city. Several houses were buried under the tonnes of mud loosened by the downpour.
District relief and rehabilitation officer Mohammed Ruhul Amin told the FE Monday afternoon that the death toll might rise further as they were receiving reports on missing from different hilly areas.
"The relief work and rescue operation by army and fire brigade are continuing at different parts of Chittagong district," Amin added.
The rescuers issued alerts by loudspeaker, asking local people to move to safety from foot of the hills.
Some 23 were killed at Lebu Bagan near Chittagong Cantonment, eight at Pahartali, nine at Kusumbagh near Goribullah Shah Mazar, five at Chittagong University area, seven at Kumira under Sitakund Upazila, two at Motijorna near Lalkan Bazar and others at different hilly areas of the district.
However, the injured were admitted to Chittagong Military Combined Hospital (CMCH) and Chittagong Medical College and Hospital.
Activities at the country's premier seaport of Chittagong were suspended from early Monday morning. The delivery of cargoes also remained suspended.
Traffic in the city came to near halt as more than two-thirds of the port city was submerged by rain water.
City's low-lying areas like Chawk Bazar, Bakolia, Muradpur, Bohaddarhat, Halishahar, north and south Agrabad, Boropul, Halishahar Housing Society, Motherbari and other areas went under knee to waist-high water.
Sources at the Met Office said incessant rainfall that coincided with sea tides submerged a wide area of the port city.
The presence of officials at both private and public offices was thin on the day. Attendance of students at different educational institutions was also very poor.
Most shops and shopping malls in the city remained closed.
Flight operation to and from Shah Amanat International Airport (SAIA) remained suspended due to the inclement weather.
Sources said seven flights from Dhaka and Kolkata were scheduled to land, but none of them could touch down because of bad weather.
Only one flight, which took off from Oman, landed at the SAIA on the day.
The heavy rain and mudslides have partially disrupted road and rail communications of Chittagong with the rest of the country.
Cox's Bazar and Mongla seaports would continue to hoist local cautionary signal No. 3, as the areas were under the influence of southwestern monsoons.
Met officials said the rainfall might further intensify over the next 24 hours.
Kalurghat radio station in the city suspended its transmission as rainwater entered the station.
A coordination cell has been set up at the Divisional Commissioner's office where army, BDR, police and local administration were coordinating the rescue and relief operations.
District Officials claimed that they had received cash Tk 1.3 million from the government to rehabilitate the affected families.
Some 200 tonnes of rice, 50 kilograms (KG) of chira, 21-Kg gur molasses and 20 Kg biscuits have also been allocated for distribution among the affected people.
The protection embankment at Sitakund has been damaged due to the heavy rain flooding the adjoining areas.
President Prof. Iajuddin Ahmed, Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed and Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed also enquired about the rescue and relief operations in the disaster area.
The chief adviser Monday expressed deep shock at the loss of lives in the landslide in Chittagong district following heavy downpour over last few days.
In a condolence message, the chief adviser conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls.
He asked the officials concerned to take quick and appropriate steps for rescue of the injured and ensure their proper treatment.
He also directed the district administration to take immediate measures for carrying out relief and rehabilitation operation and shift the distressed people into temporary shelters, if necessary.
Shipping Adviser MA Matin was scheduled to visit Chittagong at 5:0pm but he could not reach there until filing this report at 8:0 pm Monday.
Met officials said heavy rains at the onset of the monsoon season have also paralysed much of Bangladesh since Sunday morning, and raised fears of flash floods in low-lying areas.
Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal number three.
Under its influence low lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barisal, Chandpur, Barguna, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore inland and chars are likely to be inundated by tidal water, said a Met office bulletin.
All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to keep close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.