Bangladesh News

Rescuers yesterday dragged out 20 more bodies from the ruins left by Monday’s devastating landslides in Chittagong as the death toll rose to 106.

The day before the joint forces teamed up with the fire-fighters recovered 86 bodies from across the port city.

Of those recovered yesterday, 18 were from Lebu Bagan, and two from Kaichyaghona.

As of last night, 56 people were confirmed to have died at Lebu Bagan, Kaichyaghona and Sekander colony, all adjoining the Chittagong cantonment under Hathazari upazila, said sources in the joint forces.

The rescue operation was on till filing of this report late in the evening.

Talking to The Daily Star, Deputy Commissioner Ashraf Shamim however put the death count at 101.

Sources in the district administration said they have been continuing relief efforts with materials from the government funds including 200 metric tons of food grains.

Some 1,000 kg rice, 200 kg flattened rice, 25 kg gur (molasses), 100 pieces of saree and 100 pieces of lungi were distributed among the affected people yesterday.

Besides, they were preparing to provide financial assistance to the affected families.

The government had already allocated Tk 13 lakh for relief and rehabilitation of the victims, added the sources.

Meanwhile, a day after the torrential rain-induced mudslides caused huge casualties and left the city in a mess, people in many areas were still marooned. Power and gas lines remained snapped, compounding their sufferings.

Without supply of gas, locals of areas like Lalkhan Bazar and Debarpar could not cook meals while electricity connections to many city quarters could not yet be restored.

Several thousand people including those in the city centre, Agrabad CDA Residential Area, had to remain confined to their houses.

A, K and L blocks of Halishahar Housing Estate, Shantibagh, Shyamali, Sabujbagh and many areas along the Agrabad Excess Road were under ankle- to knee-deep water till yesterday afternoon.

Ground floors of around 500 buildings in Agrabad CDA R/A were submerged, shutting in the locals.

Umeda Begum Parul, a local, said the rainwater started to recede at around 5:00am but miseries continued as the houses were still littered with soaked cloths and furniture, and the air reeked of waste matter.

Many houses were waist-deep in water that caused damage to furniture and household appliances.

Zahiruddin, a private firm manager living on road No. 26, said they had to stay inside for hours as the rainwater the staircase, ground floor and the road in front were waterlogged till the afternoon.

In Shyamali residential area, Sayma Mitul, a journalism student of Chittagong University, had to wade waist-deep through water to reach the Agrabad Excess Road at around 11:00am. She had the masters examinations scheduled to begin at 12 noon.

Manjurul Haq, a house owner, said the waterlogging they suffered this time was way more severe than that during the cyclonic storm of 1991.

A ward commissioner of Chittagong City Corporation, Md Sekander, blamed the silted up Mohesh Khal (canal) for the waterlogging. Proper excavation and construction of a sluice gate there could have saved the area from being inundated, he added.

An 18-member diver team of the navy led by Lt Tanveer Ahmed conducted a search operation for those feared washed away in low-lying areas of Halishahar, Shantibagh and Shyamali.

Fire Service and Civil Defence helped the team carry out the four-hour mission that saw none of those reported missing rescued. Later, the team gave out food and mineral water among 300 people in Shantibagh.

UNB adds: Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed yesterday flew in the city and visited Lebu Bagan area in Hathazari.

Later, he visited the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) where a number of injured people were undergoing treatment.

Before leaving for Dhaka, he went to Jahangir Line High School in Chittagong cantonment where the forces have set up a relief centre.