COX’S BAZAR: Landslides triggered by torrential rain on the first day of the rainy season buried at least 50 people, including six army-men, under a deluge of mud and water in Cox’s Bazar-Bandarban belt early Tuesday, official sources said.

In the coastal district of Cox’s Bazar, 46 people, including six army-men, died as mud-and-water debris came down crashing on them from denuded hillocks in the bordering Ukhia and Tekhnaf upazilas.  

The death toll could rise in the disastrous landslides, administration and local people apprehended, as rescuers continued clearing the swamps.

Eight members of 17 Engineering Construction Battalion (ECB) of the Army were trapped under the debris at the tourist-resort Himchhari. Of the trapped troops, two were rescued alive and the bodies of six recovered from under the debris.

Shahnewaj Ali Khan, the contractor of the marine driveway, and two of his assistants--M Nurul Huq and Tanvirul Huq--told banglanews24.com.bd that the army personnel were preparing to go to their workplace after breakfast at about 7am when the tragedy struck them down.

“A huge chunk of earth with a big bang crashed onto their hill-foot camp, burying six alive. The rest managed to come out of the deathtrap,” said Tanvir.

Five of the dead were identified as sergeant Afsar, 40, corporal Habib, soldiers Aslam and Humayun and army driver Ismail. Identity of the remaining one could not be known yet.

 Ramu thana OC Mohammad Shahjahan said the army personnel were engaged in construction of Cox’s Bazar Marine Driveway.

Ramu UNO SM Saidul Huq said 62 army personnel used to stay in a foothill camp at Himchhari. Six of them were not found.

Lt Col Mamun, Commanding Officer of 17 ECB, told banglanews24.com.bd over telephone, “Tuesday’s landslide caused huge damage to both manpower and equipment and the rescue operation is on.” He would not give details about the casualties.

In one of the tragedies, all five of a family perished in a catastrophic predawn landslide on their home at Puranpollapara in Takhnaf upazila.

Takhnaf UNO AMM Nazimuddin said bodies of the five were recovered in the morning. Identities of the deceased could not be known immediately. “Two more people are still under the ruble in the locality and they might have died,” he said.

But, local people informed eight people of three families were killed in the wrecked Puranpolla area.

The dead were identified as Kulsuma,7, and Noor Kalim, 3, children of Mohammad Hashim, Abdul Jalil, 35, his wife Shahina Akhter, 30, and their children Abdur Razzak, 11, Sheuli, 8, and Dolly, 5, and a one-year-old boy, son of Mohammad Shafi.

In another family tragedy, five members of a family and another villager were buried alive under mud-and-water debris that collapsed on their hill-foot home at Rahmaterbeel of Pangkhali union in Ukhia Upazila.

They are Joynal Abedin, 35, his wife Rahela Yasmin Daisy, 25, and three children: Arman, 7, Umme Habiba, 5, and 30-month-old Mohammad Sohan.

Son of one Gura Mia was also reported killed in the same area.

Mawlana Noor Ahmed Anwary, Chairman of Hoaikyang union in Teknaf, confirmed 17 dead in Lengurbil, Amtali, Keruntali and Laturikila areas of his union and Lechuprayang of Pankhali union. Bodies of all the victims were dug out from under the mud.   

“More bodies are still lying buried under the rubble,” said the chairman, overwhelmed by the scale of misfortune of the hapless people.

But, newsmen said 20 bodies were recovered from the areas.

Of yet another landslide-stricken family, four were killed in Pashchim Shikderpara area under Hila union. They are Noor Mohammad, 45, his wife Laila Begum, 40, and their children Nasima Akhter, 5, and nine-month-old son Nurul Absar.

Palangkhali UP chairman Mazharul Anwar said 19 villages out of 27 of the union were flooded by rainwater. Shrimp worth over Tk 10 crore in different shrimp enclosures were washed away.

Meanwhile, communications on Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf road were cut off as the road went under onrush of hill waters.

Local Met office recorded 254mm rainfall in the district in 27 hours from 6am Monday while 122 mm in three hours from 6am to 9am Tuesday.

In Bandarban, landslide killed four people of a same family and injured seven at Bhajabunia under Ghumdhum union in Naikhyangchhari upazila as chunks of mud dropped on their home.

The dead are Habibul Bashar, 25, his wife Sajeda, 22, and their children Sakib, 5, and Shakera, 2. Ghundhum UP chairman confirmed the deaths.

Police said the victims could not come out of their house as they were in deep sleep during the incident. Later, police with the help of local people recovered the bodies.

Local administration sources told banglanews24.com.bd that onrush of waters from hills, triggered by incessant rain, flooded many areas in the hill tracts, disrupting road communications.

“Communications between Ghumdhum union and other areas snapped while hundreds of people in three villages of the union got marooned,” he said.

Bandarban DC Mizanur Rahman said Naikhyangchhari UNO was sent to the spot to take necessary steps.

BDST 1430, June 15, 2010
AK/MMK/LY/MUA