United News of Bangladesh

Tensions have gripped residents of the hill Rangamati district as the local met office forecast landslides due to continued rainfall under the influence of the monsoon and a low-pressure over the Bay for the past few days. Despite repeated warnings from the administration to relocate to safer areas, many continue to stay in high-risk zones. According to the local met office, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in Chattogram and adjoining districts due to the active monsoon, increasing the risk of landslides in hilly areas. Heavy rainfall, landslides, waterlogging likely in 3 divisions Rangamati district authorities said around 20,000 people from 5,000 families are currently living in landslide-prone areas, with 31 spots marked as high-risk zones in the district town. Deputy Collector (NDC) of the district administration Nabil Nawrose Baishakh said, “The district administration is fully prepared to deal with any disaster. Our response teams are on standby and will be deployed wherever necessary.” Landslides claimed 120 lives in 2017 and 11 more in 2018 in the district. A major road collapse in 2017 also left the district cut off for nine days.

Rangamati district administration issued a landslide warning and urged people to evacuate the risky areas around foothills on Saturday. District administrative Md. Mizanur Rahman said more than lakhs of people live in the foothill areas of Rangamati as the city itself is located over hills. Also read: 2 Rohingyas killed in landslide at Rohingya camps To avoid casualties and losses, the warning was issued as heavy rain starting from early June can cause landslides. "Accidents due to landslides have become an annual event here. Administration is spreading awareness by installing signboards, banners, miking and distributing leaflets," he said. Also read: Landslide in Gazipur’s Kapasia: Traffic movement suspended On June 13, 2017 at least 120 people including members of armed forces got killed in a landslide caused by heavy rain in Rangamati. The number was more according to non-government sources. The landslide also disrupted connectivity in Rangamati-Chattogram highway, Rangamati-Khagrachari and Rangamati-Bandarban roads for days.