Rangamati landslide: Rescuers search for body in Kaptai Lake

- 150 killed in 5 districts so far

- 112 dead in Rangamati

- Official search operation ended yesterday

- Survivors living in food, water, medicine crisis

- Prices of essentials are skyrocketing

Rescuers began a search operation in Kaptai Lake of Rangamati this morning after locals informed about sighting of a dead body floating in the lake.

Read More: Landslides Death toll 150: Call for rehabilitation, relief gets louder

Golam Mostofa, assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence in Rangamati, told The Daily Star that they began the operation at 10:00am after locals informed them that a body was seen floating in the lake.

Also Read: Rangamati in food, fuel crisis

However, no dead body has been recovered from the site so far, he said. 

Official death toll in landslides in five districts in the hilly region stood at 150 till yesterday, with 112 confirmed deaths in Rangamati, the worst affected district.

Earlier yesterday evening, District Deputy Commissioner Manzarul Mannan announced the wrapping up of search operation in Rangamati at a press briefing around 5:45pm.

Search team head AKM Shakil Newaz, deputy director of Fire Service and Civil Defence, however said fire fighters would continue operation in a limited scale.

Amid shortage of food, drinking water and medicines, demands for rehabilitation and extensive relief operation have grown louder in Rangamati, with landslide survivors living in dismal conditions in shelter centers for the last four days.

Road transports between Rangamati and other districts have remained suspended since Tuesday. Authorities are trying to establish communications through waterways.

Prices of essentials are skyrocketing there and supplies are getting scarce.

Warning of further rainfall and landslide still stands.