A five-year old child and two women were killed in separate landslides following a heavy rainfall in Cox’s Bazar on early Thursday.
The deceased were identified as Jamila Begum (30), a resident of Palliakata area under Ward no 6, Nazmul Hassan (6), of Sikderbazar area under ward no 7, Laila Begum, 35, of Betbinia .
Cox Bazar Municipality Mayor Mahbubur Rahman Chowdhury told reporters that heavy rain triggered the two incidents of landslide at Ward No 6 and 7.
“Many areas, including the tourist spots, have gone under rainwater. The incessant rain has also created waterlogging in most of the parts of the municipality,” he said.
Cox’s Bazar Met office recorded some 179 millimeters rainfall in six hours, starting from 3:00am to 9:00am.
Locals said that Jamila was trapped in the landslide when she was preparing breakfast for the family members.
Soon after the incident, they rushed to the spot and rescued her and then took her to hospital where on duty doctor declared her dead.
In a separate incident, a landslide struck Saiful Islam’s house breaking through the mud wall and trapped Nazmul.
Hearing the news, locals rushed to the spot, moved soil and rescued the child. They took him to hospital where the on-duty doctors declared him dead.
Cox’s Bazar resident medical officer Ashiqur Rahman said both Nazmul and Jamila died before taking to hospital.
Traders said that the main thoroughfare of Kalatali tourist spot along with shops, offices and houses went under the water due to the heavy rain.
Aziz Russell, a resident of Tekpara, said that many areas of the city went under knee-deep water due to poor drainage system, resulting in huge damage to the property of the people.
