Vehicular movement between Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram remained suspended since Tuesday morning due to the flashflood in 90 villages under seven upazilas of Cox’s Bazar district, triggered by the torrential rainfall and onrush of water from upstream.
The low-lying areas of Chakaria, Pekua, Ramu, Sadar and Eidgaon upazilas of the district have been inundated as the flood situation worsened in the past 24 hours, rendering 2.5 lakh people marooned.
People were seen wading through waist-deep water as all the roads were submerged due to the swelling of all river waters, forcing the local administration to suspend vehicular movements on Cox’s Bazar-Chattogram, Ramu-Naikhangchhari and Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf.
Five people were killed in different parts of the district in landslides and drowned in floodwater on Monday and Tuesday, said Deputy Commissioner Shaheen Imran.
A man drowned in the floodwater while trying to collect the wood log while three children and a woman died in landslide.
The incidents occurred in the Ukhiya Rohingya camp, Chakaria upazila and Lakkharchar over the Matamuhuri River.
“We are working to avoid any big natural disaster in the district,” said DC.
The houses and educational establishments in Chakaria and Pekua upazilas were inundated by the flood water while the fish enclosures of different areas of the district were washed away.
Already people have started to take shelter in a safer place with domestic animals from Monday.
Power connection was disrupted in 15 villages under the seven upazilas of the district.
The flood-hit areas include—ten villages in Sadar upazila have been flooded while 15 in Maheshkhali upazila, 12 in Eidgaon upazila, 20 in Chakaria, 10 in Ukhiya, 20 in Ramu, 15 in Pekua and 10 in Teknaf upazilas of the district.
The Matamuhuri and Bakkhali rivers were flowing above their danger marks while flood control embankments at ten points along the Matamuhuri River collapsed, inundating the low-lying areas.
Sohel Sarwar Kajal, chairman of Ramu Upazila, said the low-lying areas of Garjania, Kacchapia, Kauwar Khop, Joarianala, Dakkhin Mithachhari, Rajarkul and Fatekharkul unions were flooded due to the swelling of Bakkhali River, causing untold suffering to the residents.
Ahsan Ullah Bachhu, chairman of Maheshkhali Dhalghata union, said roads of different villages in Dhalghata union were submerged and the river water also entered into the standing crops land.
Jamal Morshed, Chakaria upazila officer of the Water Development Board, said the embankments at Koinnarkum, BM Char and Mehernama point collapsed due to the strong current of Matamuhuri River while many are at risk of collapse.
JP Dewan, Chakaria Upazila Nirbahi Officer, said residents living on the hill slopes have been asked to evacuate their places fearing landslides.
