Army deployed in Chattogram, Bandarban to tackle flood situation
Chattogram has been grappling with incessant heavy rains for days, resulting in the submergence of various low-lying areas, widespread flooding, and landslides.
The army has been deployed amidst escalating flood conditions in Chattogram and Bandarban, where thousands are stranded due to rising waters and severed inter-district road connections.
"The army has been deployed to handle the flood situation and landslides in Chattogram and Bandarban," Rashedul Alam Khan, assistant director at the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed to The Business Standard.
Chattogram has been grappling with incessant heavy rains for days, resulting in the submergence of various low-lying areas, widespread flooding, and landslides.
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Patenga Meteorological Office recorded 306 millimetres of rainfall during the last 24 hours ending 6pm on 7 August and 698.7 millimetres rainfall in the last five days causing serious disruptions to civic life and port and businesses activities in the city.
Three organisations – the Chattogram Development Authority, the Water Development Board and the Chattogram City Corporation – have been implementing at least four projects involving Tk15,000 crore in Chattogram for the last eight years to bring respite from the impact of rainfalls.
Shaukat Ibn Shahid, executive engineer of the Water Development Board, said water from the Sangu river has been flowing over the border for two days. As a result, water entered the Bhati region of Chattogram, including Bandarban, causing severe floods in various locations.
Death by drowning, landslides and snakebite
Amid these dire conditions, things have taken a more tragic turn as two people were reported dead due to floods on Tuesday. Among them, a child drowned in Ramu and a businessman died of snakebite in Pekua.
A university student drowned in flood water in Amirabad area of Chattogram's Lohagara upazila.
According to locals, Jarif drowned in the floodwaters while attempting to relocate to a safer area along with his family members around 2am on Tuesday. His body was finally recovered after 13 hours, around 3:30pm today.
Earlier on Monday, two people died in the Rohingya camp in Ukhia and three people were killed in landslides in Chakaria.
Farmer Ashab Mia, 60, drowned in the flood water along with his son. Though his son was rescued from a nearby area, Ashab Mia remains missing.
A college student named Nipa Palit had also died after drowning in accumulated water in front of her house in the port city.
Rescue and relief operations
At this point, at least 650,000 people are stuck in Cox's Bazar. People's houses, crops and other assets were washed away.
People were seen running through the water stream in search of shelter. Children and the elderly are most at risk. The ones who were trapped are being rescued and taking shelters wherever they find dry or high grounds.
Amid the food crisis, there has been a hike in prices of essentials.
Morshed Rahman, a resident of Raozan Upazila, told TBS, "The Chittagong-Rangamati highway was closed for two days due to flooding. Meanwhile, prices of consumer goods have increased. A dozen eggs are being sold for Tk160 to Tk170. The price of vegetables per kg has increased up to Tk 30-40."
But the district administration has been taking measures to allocate rice, dry food among other necessities to the areas affected.
Chittagong Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abul Basar Mohammad Fakhruzzaman said 370 metric tonnes of rice has been allocated for disaster situations. Another 100-tonne allocation process is underway from the ministry. Relief assistance of Tk8.25 lakh has been given in cash. Another Tk10 lakh is in the process of allocation. Besides, 3,500 dry food packets and necessary saline, water purification tablets have been allocated.
Cox's Bazar Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Vibhishan Kanti Das said 58 metric tonnes of rice and Tk7 lakh have already been distributed in the flooded areas. The support team is working under the leadership of the upazila administration at the field level. Army and Navy are on the ground to provide overall support, including rescue operations in flooded areas and Rohingya camps.
Power outage, communication disruptions
Across 300 locations in 8 upazilas of Chattogram are affected by damaged electrical supply lines.
Abu Bakkar Siddique, senior general manager of Chattogram Palli Bidyut Samity, said, "Heavy rains, landslides and gusty winds have damaged over 50 electric poles. Electric supply lines have been damaged in at least 300 areas. Due to this, at least one lakh people are left without electricity for the last 12 to 36 hours.
"We have already started working on the supply lines. The situation is expected to be normal by tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Bandarban faced a deluge, recording a staggering 342mm of rainfall in the preceding hour leading up to Monday evening (7 August).
In Bandarban, low-lying roads are all underwater, while some internal roads have been blocked due to landslides. Houses on the bank of river Sangu have already been submerged as the water level keeps rising.
In some areas, there has been no electricity for the past two days; mobile network and internet services have also been cut since Sunday night. In such a situation, many residents of the district town and upazila have left their homes and taken shelter in hotels and educational institutions.
Long-distance buses from Bandarban to Dhaka-Chittagong, Rangamati, Cox's Bazar have not left since morning due to flooded roads. Besides, road communication to Rowangchari, Ruma and Thanchi upazilas has been cut off.
Damage estimates are not immediately available as all mobile networks and internet services are down. However, on Tuesday afternoon, a written report on the overall traffic situation in Bandarban due to continuous rain was presented from the deputy commissioner's office.
A letter has been given to the Directorate of Disaster Management seeking additional relief allocation. Besides, a medical response team headed by a civil surgeon and a quick response team have been formed in each sub-district.
Meanwhile, an emergency meeting of the district administration and army was held at Bandarban District Commissioner's office this afternoon to deal with the disastrous situation.
After the meeting, the deputy commissioner told reporters that it has been raining like this for seven days straight in Bandarban. But the situation has improved somewhat. Meetings have already been held with all the forces, including the Army.
"The Army has assured maximum cooperation. We have given all the requirements they asked us. Food has been delivered to shelters.
"However, Lama Upazila has been the most affected. Lama Upazila Health Complex and food warehouses have been flooded. Efforts are underway to deliver relief and other assistance there as soon as possible,'' said the commissioner.
