Landslides kill 12 in Rangamati, Cox’s Bazar

At least 12 people have been killed in separate incidents of landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in Rangamati and Cox’s Bazar, police say.

Among the deceased, 11 were killed in Naniarchar upazila of Rangamati and one in Maheshkhali upazila of Cox’s Bazar, our local correspondents report.

In Naniarchar, landslides in Boro Kul Para, Hati Mara and Siyalli Para took place early today, triggered by non-stop rain since Sunday.

Four of the victims were killed in Darmachandpara, while four members of a family in Boro Poolpara and three in Hatimara in the upazila, UNB reports quoting Tridip Kanti Das, member of Rangamati Parbotto Zila Parishad.

In Boro Kul Para, those killed were Surendra Lal Chakma, 48, his wife Rajjo Debi Chakma, 45, and their daughter Sonali Chakma, 9, and another boy Rumen Chakma, 12.

In Hati Mara, two of the three killed were identified as Rita Chakma and Riten Chakma. In Siyalli Para, Fulo Debi Chakma, Eti Chakma and a two-month-old baby died.

Naniarchar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Muhammad Abdul Latif confirmed the casualties and their identities. Further rescue works are underway.

In Cox’s Bazar, Badsha Mia, 35, was buried alive around 6:00am in Moheshkhali upazila, our local staff correspondent reports quoting Pradip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Maheshkhali Police Station.

The body has been handed over to the family. The district administration has offered Tk 20,000 as aid to the family.

It is to be noted that last year, during the monsoon, Bangladesh’s most devastating series of landslides in a decade killed at least 170 people, 120 alone in Rangamati.

During that time, experts blamed errant hill-cutting as the main cause of landslides.