Dhaka – Five members of a family including three children were killed in a landslide at hilly Jangal Salimpur area under Sitakunda Upazila in Chittagong early Friday.The deceased were identified as Bibi Fatema, 35, her son Younus, 10, her daughters Samiya, 7, Lamiya, 2 and her sister-in-law Rabeya Khatun, 25, all were hailing from Noakhali district, said Mohammad Ruhul Amin, assistant commissioner of land Sitakunda.
“The landslide was taken place at around 3:45am due to incessant rain when the victims were asleep. They have built a tin-shed hut on the risky slope at Jangal Salimpur at government property. The hill was crashing down on the one part of their tin-shed hut due to incessant rain. Four were injured over the landslide and they were given primary treatment. The injured—Salma, Jannat, Rafiqul Islam, and Gias Uddin were rescued from under the mud,” said Ruhul Amin.
Rafiqul Islam is an auto-rickshaw driver by profession and her wife Bibi Fatema was a garment worker, added Amin.
After the landslide the local resident rushed to the spot and carried out the rescue operation said Fire Service and Civil Defence director Lt Col Mosharraf Hossain.
In the meantime, Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Zillur Rahman Chowdhury asked the people who are living at risky hills slope to leave the hills slope. He said, “As per geological survey of Bangladesh in Chittagong there is possibility of landslide. So, the people who are living at hills slope have been asked to leave hills slope and to go safe place.”
Chittagong’s Sitakunda is experiencing heavy downpour from Wednesday due to depression at Bay of Bengal.
Thousands of people mostly low-income are living Jangal Salimpur at government property building hut at risky hills slope.
Earlier, little over a month ago on June 13, over 150 were killed in landslide at Rangamati and Bandarbar districts in Chittagong region. – Staff Reporter
