The incessant downpour over the past few days has hit people in Cox’s Bazar hard, with many rendered homeless and the threat of landslides looming in the area.
Hundreds of people have been marooned in rainwater while houses, shrimp farms, crops land, salt beds have been inundated as major thoroughfares in the district have been submerged in torrential rain.
AKM Nazmul Huq of Cox’s Bazar metrological office said all fishing boats and trawlers in the North bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice.
Light to heavy rain and south-southeasterly gusty or squally winds are likely to persist in the flood-hit areas over the next two days, he warned.
Meanwhile, 50 villages of Moheshkhali upazila, Cox’s Bazar sadar, Ukhia, Teknaf, Ramu, Chokoriya and Pekuya were flooded as rainwater broke embankments.
In Ramu upazila, more than 20 villages were submerged, with the water level of Bakkhali river increasing, leading to erosion across the region.
Likewise in Ukhia, around 200 dwellings were damaged and many shrimp farms near Naf river in Teknaf were flooded.
Shrimp cultivators Akkas, Altaj Ali, Hafez Zaker, Farid Alam of Palongkhali union claimed that over Tk30m of losses were incurred as around 60 shrimp farms on a 3,000-acre land went under tidal water.
Rohingya refugees living illegally on different hills owned by the forest department were among those marooned in the rainwater.
The areas most affected in Cox’s Bazar are Poschim Palongkhali, Nolbonia, Tajlimar Khola, Rohmoterbil, Dhamonkhali and Balukhali areas under Palongkhali union, Machkariya, Modhurchora, Hajipara, Malvita Para, Ukhia Sadar, Boruapara, Ghilatoli, Hijlia, Tuturbil under Rajapalong union, Purbo Rotna Boruapara, Sadrikata, Poschim Rotna under Rotnapalong union, Kumarpara, Chowdhurypara, Mohajon Para, Uttor Boro Bil under Holdiapalong union and Pinijir Kul, Painashiya, Jaliyapalong, Sonar Para, Uttara Nidania, Chepotkhali and Monkhali under Jaliyapalong union. Administrators of Chakoriya upazila have been urging people to move to safer locations.
Gias Uddin, sub-engineer of Teknaf Water Development Board (WDB) said new cracks have developed in the 65-kilometre-long flood control dyke of the upazila, due to the effect of landslides and tidal incursions.
Teknaf upazila Chairman Sharif Mia said: “Low-lying areas have gone under rainwater, thus leaving thousands of people under 22 villages marooned.”
Locals alleged that officers of the local municipality and WDB have not taken measures to mitigate suffering by people affected.
Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Ruhul Amin said they have advised the upazila nirbahi officer to distribute food among the flood-affected people.
All kinds of necessary steps will be taken to rein in the fury of flood, he added.
