Mudslide kills 10 in Lama

Six of a family perished; 50 houses destroyed
Incessant rain for the last four days triggered a massive mudslide at Harinmara of Lama in Bandarban early yesterday killing 10 people, including six of a family, and destroying 50 houses.
Nine of the deceased were Abul Hashem, his mother Guljar Begum, wife Amena Begum, son Yunus, daughter Setara Begum, son-in-law Omar Faruk, Alamgir, Rifat and Rehana Akhter. The identity of the other person could not be known.
After the mudslide, the district administration over horn speakers asked locals in vulnerable areas to move to safer places.
Dil Mohammad, father of Omar Faruk, said, “I woke up hearing the roaring sound around 3:00am. Homes around the spot where the mudslide occurred were razed to the ground. I tried to get to those buried under the mud but it was of little use.”
During a spot visit, The Daily Star correspondent saw hardly any trace of the 50 houses that used to be there. The huge area was ravaged and only the road stretching up to Lama via Gozalia from Aziz Nagar, built by cutting a hill, remained. Around 2,000 non-indigenous settlers used to live there and the area appeared to be devoid of trees.
Locals were seen assisting firemen in recovering the bodies.
Three fire engines from Chakaria and Pekua in Cox’s Bazar and Satkania of Chittagong went to the spot and started recovery operations. With the help of locals they recovered the 10 bodies in seven hours. Several high officials of Bandarban took part in the operation.
A fire service official told The Daily Star yesterday that they have concluded their rescue and recovery operation after making sure that none was still buried under the mud.
Mohammad Ismail, chairman of Lama upazila parishad, said the district council and Lama upazila parishad have taken a joint initiative to move people at risky places to safer areas.
Mohammad Shaheen, an official of Bandarban Soil Preservation Centre, said there was no rain in the area for the last one and a half months and several large cracks had developed in the hill and at different spots. He apprehended that driving rain during the last four days might have caused the mudslide.
Bandarban Zila Parishad allocated Tk 25,000 cash and six tonnes of rice for the victims.
In 1996, at least 11 people were killed in a series of mudslides and landslides at Chittar Tali, Chiwni Para and Muslim Para adjacent to Aziz Nagar Industrial Area in the district.

Courtesy of The Daily Star