At least eight people lost their lives yesterday in flash floods and landslides triggered by incessant rain, which continued to wreak havoc across the country since Wednesday. The rains also caused severe waterlogging in Chandpur, Patuakhali, Barisal and many parts of the capital. Cox's Bazar remains the worst sufferer, as it recorded 879mm of rain in the last 60 hours. Heavy rains lashing down on the district caused landslides in barren hills and claimed the lives of six people, including two children, on the isle of St. Martins. Many areas and towns in Chandpur and Khulna have remained waterlogged. This has created panic among the locals, who fear a sea surge in the southwestern coast.
Reports from Cox's Bazar say four people were swept away by flash floods in Ukhia in the early hours of yesterday. They were identified as Khatija Begum, 35, Halima Begum, 27, Mohammad Redwan, 6 and Junu Miah, 60. Their bodies were recovered yesterday. Amir Hossain, 40, a resident of Kawakhop in Ramu upazila, was found buried under the fallen mud wall of a house. A mother and her child were killed when a coconut tree fell on them after strong winds, ravaging the St. Martins Island, uprooted the tree. They were identified as Anwara Begum, 25 and Zeeshan, 4. A few more people were also injured, local upazila parishad sofficials said. In Bandarban district, Alif, 10, and his sister Meem, 8, were killed in Banaripa area of the town when some portions of a hill crashed, along with their mudhouse, following a landslide early yesterday. Their father and an uncle were rescued and sent to hospital, according to sources in the fire services.Meanwhile, met office sources said the rains that began on Wednesday would gradually peter out from today. There had been heavy rainfall since 4pmyesterday over Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna, Chittagong and Barisal Divisions, the met office noted.
Rain also continued to hit life in the capital leaving its low-lying areas and many streets clogged with water. Fortunately for the day being the weekend traffic was thin thus helping the people at least with the relief of traveling without hassles. However, woes of residents in the city’s outskirts like D&D area in Demra and Kamrangirchar were worst due to water-logging since Wednesday. Heavy showers also disrupted supplies in kitchen markets pushing up prices of essentials during the holy month of fasting.