Recent Downpours in Southeast: 51 lives lost to floods, landslides in 4 dists

The recent flood caused by torrential rain and tidal water in the country's southeastern region has claimed at least 51 lives in four districts.

Of the victims, 20 died in Cox's Bazar, 16 in Chattogram, 10 in Bandarban and five in Rangamati, according to local administrations.

They died either in landslides or from drowning in floodwaters in the last one week.

Over 10 lakh people in the four districts and Feni are flood victims, said a report of the disaster management and relief ministry on August 9.

In Cox's Bazar, the worst affected is Chakaria upazila where 11 people lost their lives. Six more died in Pekua upazila.

Bibhisan Kanti Das, additional deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar, said around 4,80,000 people have been hit by flash floods in the district.

Seven out of 10 reported deaths in Bandarban were from landslides and the rest drowned.

Meanwhile, vehicular movement on Chimbuk-Ruma-Thanchi road remained suspended for around a week due to several landslides at different points on the road.

Many houses and a vast tract of jhum land have been damaged.

"As no vehicle can ply the road, we have to walk around 9km to reach a nearby bazar [market] for buying our daily essentials," said Ring Tulang Bawm, 25, of 16 Mail area in Bandarban Sadar upazila.

"I cultivated pumpkin on 10 acres of land. But pumpkins of around seven acres have been washed away by floodwaters," said Rurung Mro, 55, of Tongaboti area in Bandarban Sadar upazila.

"A woman in our para [neighbourhood] became sick suddenly on Thursday. But we could not take her to hospital as the road was damaged," said Youngnao Mro, a member of Gelenga Union Parishad in Ruma upazila.

Crops of over 8,253 hectares have been destroyed in Bandarban, said Sha Mozahid Uddin, deputy commissioner of the district.

Road communications between Bandarban and other parts of the country, and power supply resumed on Thursday night after three days.

Floodwaters receded from the district town, but some low-lying areas of the district are still under water, said locals.

Md Saifullah Majumdar, the relief and rehabilitation officer of Chattogram, said it has so far been confirmed that 16 people died in five upazilas of the district. But they have no information about the missing people.

Among the deceased, seven were in Satkania, four in Lohagara, two in Chandanaish, and one each in Banshkhali, Raozan and Chattogram city, he told The Daily Star yesterday.

"It is not possible to say the extent of the damage caused by the flood. We are trying to collect this information with the help of various upazila government offices and public representatives. It will take at least one more week to assess the damage," he added.

Out of 15 upazilas of Chattogram, Satkania, Banshkhali and Chandanaish are the worst affected. Flood also hit the low-lying areas of Patiya, Anwara, Raozan, Rangunia, Sitakunda, Mirsarai, Hathazari and Fatikchhari upazilas, according to the local administrations.

In Rangamati, at least five people, including four children, have so far drowned in Baghaichhari upazila in the last two days.

Baghaichhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rumana Akter confirmed the deaths.

Crops of over 3,135 hectares have gone under water in the district, according to the local agriculture office.

At least 46 houses were damaged by landslides in the district, said the report of the disaster management and relief ministry.

[Our correspondents in Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Chattogram and Rangamati contributed to this report.]