Monsoon rains sweep through city leaving nearly 100 people dead

LANDSLIDES and lightning strikes left nearly 100 people dead in Bangladesh as torrential monsoon rains pounded the country, officials said yesterday.

At least 86 people were killed when weekend rains flooded the southeastern port city of Chittagong and set off landslides in surrounding areas. A further 10 people were struck by lightning in four districts across the country.

Chittagong police and city officials said the landslides had buried dozens of homes in hilly districts around the city, and warned the death toll could still rise.

“The situation is very grave. It is still raining hard in the city,” said Chittagong police chief Moinur Rahman Chowdhury.

Major Kawser Ali of the army control room said so far 86 bodies were recovered in the port city. Most of the victims were killed by landslides. Another 89 people had been injured and admitted to hospital.

Chittagong division commissioner Mukhlesur Rahman said the death toll would rise as three houses containing 15-16 people were buried under 3.5 metres of mud in the city’s central Hathazari district.

“Army and fire brigade officers are using shovels and spades to dig through the mud. But we are racing against time to save them,” he added.

“These are the worst ever rain-triggered landslides in Chittagong,” said the head of the city’s fire brigade Rashedul Islam. He said that it could take at least another 24 hours to recover all the dead.

“Home after home has been buried in tonnes of mud and we still haven’t reached all the affected areas yet,” he said.

Thousands of troops, police and fire brigade personnel, plus civilian aid teams, were mobilised while mosques were asked to provide shelter to those evacuating their homes, Rahman said.

According to the Bangladesh’s meteorological office further heavy rains were expected across Bangladesh during the next 24 hours.