Flood improves in Cox’s Bazar amid fear of landslides

Staff Reporter  :
The flood situation in Cox’s Bazar has slightly improved, but new areas of the district have been inundated leaving over 1.5 lakh people marooned, while the rainwater triggers the fear of landslides in the hilly district of Chattogram.

There has been some improvement in the flood situation in the Chakaria and Pekua upazilas of Cox’s Bazar since Tuesday night as water levels receded in certain areas. But in Rangamati, numerous villages have been inundated.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka city experienced severe submersion due to incessant rain on Wednesday, inundating many of the lower areas, roads, and alleys.

According to Flood Forecasting Warning Centre (FFWC), in the next 24-hour, the flood situation in the low-lying areas of Chattogram and Bandarban districts may continue improving.

All the major rivers – Muhuri, Feni, Halda, Karnaphuli, Sangu and Matamuhuri – in the south-eastern hill basin of the country are in a falling trend, it said.

Chattogram district local administration stated that new areas are still experiencing flooding as onrush of hill water continues to inundate. Besides, the breach of river embankments has caused floodwaters to enter new villages.

Furthermore, due to the flow of floodwaters over the Maheshkhali Road in Chandanaish, the road connectivity between Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, and Bandarban districts remains severed, causing immense sufferings to the people for communication.

According to district and upazila authorities, flooding has affected all 25 unions in the Chakaria and Pekua upazilas. As a result, a significant number of people are still stranded by floodwaters in these areas.

Although the rainfall has decreased since Tuesday night, the water level of the Matamuhuri River has been flowing over the danger mark.

Due to the breaches caused by the hill water, around 15 embankments along the Matamuhuri River have been breached, leading to the flooding of new areas as floodwaters inundating localities.

The inhabitants of the low-lying areas near the Matamuhuri River are facing extreme difficulties. In the past eight days, due to landslides, drowning, and snakebites, seven individuals have lost their lives in Chakaria, Pekua, Ruma, and Rohingya camps.

All educational institutions in the flood-affected areas of Chakaria and Pekua upazilas have been closed and these institutions have been designated as shelters.

In these two upazilas, thousands of people had sought refuge in cyclone shelters and now they returned home.

District administrator Mohammad Shahin Imran has reported that in the current floods, Chakaria and Pekua upazilas have been the hardest hit in Cox’s Bazar.

“As of now, 15 embankments along the Matamuhuri River have breached, leading to the flooding of various areas as floodwaters infiltrate localities.

The administration has already provided 50,000 metric tonnes of rice and seven lakh Taka in cash assistance to the flood-affected regions.

Moreover, dry food has been distributed among the affected people,” he told the media.

In addition to relief efforts and food assistance, the Navy, Coast Guard, and Army personnel have been engaged in rescue operations and aid distribution in the flood-affected areas.

Floodwaters and landslides have affected the most areas in Chakaria upazila, including Kakara, Surajpur, Manikpur, Baraitali, Harbang, Purba Baro Bheola, BM Char, Pashchim Baro Bheola, Chiringa, Lakshmarchar, Koiyarbil, Fasiakhali, Badarkhali Dhemushia, Konakhali, Chakaria Municipality, and Pekua Sadar Union.

Many roads in these areas are submerged, severely affecting the local population. Due to the absence of sufficient culverts and culvert gates for draining water from the lower areas and the under-construction rail line, the water from the hilly regions is not draining rapidly, causing local residents to express their grievances.

In Rangamati, numerous villages have been inundated, exacerbating the flood situation, particularly in the downstream areas of Baghaichhari, Jurachhari, Billachhari, and Barkal upazilas.

The administration is working diligently to manage the situation.

Agricultural crops have been devastated, and livestock are facing threats due to flooding.

Residents of Midyapara in Baghaichhari, Mohammad Mosaraf Hossen and Kaiyum Hossen, mentioned that due to the rising water levels, they had to leave the shelters.

UNO Rumaana Akhtar stated, “Due to the floodwaters, I can’t even get to my office located on the lower floor.

About 9 wards of the Upazila’s municipality and 8 unions are affected by flooding. Approximately 35,000 people are stranded due to floodwaters.

We have opened 242 shelters across the Upazila. Food is being prepared and distributed to those seeking refuge.”

Meanwhile, continuous heavy rainfall over the past few days has led to landslides, causing the Dighinala-Kalabagan and Baghaithat-Rashtala roads to be submerged, disrupting the communication between Khagrachhari and Sajek.

As a result, three to four hundred tourists are stranded in Sajek. Since Wednesday, they have been unable to leave Sajek due to the road being inundated with water.

As par FFWC, The Brahmaputra-Jamuna Rivers are in rising trend which may continue in next 72 hours.

According to meteorological agencies, there is a chance of medium to heavy rainfall in the north-eastern and adjacent upstream parts of Bangladesh in next 24-48 hours.

For this reason, all the major rivers (Surma, Kushiyara, Manu, Khowai, Sarigowain, Jhalukhali, Bhugai-Kangsha, Someswari, Jadukata)in the North-eastern region of the country may rise rapidly at times during these periods