3 more die in landslide, drowning in Cox’s Bazar

Three more people have died in Cox's Bazar in landslide and drowning incidents as the flood situation in inundated areas remained largely unchanged despite a slight easing of eight days of continuous heavy rain.

A woman died in a landslide in Cox's Bazar town yesterday (11 July) night, while two children drowned in floodwaters in Pekua and Chakaria yesterday night and afternoon.

In Cox's Bazar town, a housewife was buried under mud and killed in a landslide at Purba Kalatali Jhirijhiri Para around 9:30pm yesterday. Her husband was injured in the incident.

The deceased was identified as Rozina Begum, 30, wife of Abdul Majid of the area. She was a mother of three. Her husband Abdul Majid, 37, sustained minor injuries.

Relatives and locals said Majid and Rozina were preparing to have dinner together when Rozina went to the kitchen, located below a hill slope, to bring a pot of food around 9:30pm.

At that time, a large chunk of earth suddenly collapsed onto the kitchen, burying her under the mud. Her husband survived with minor injuries as he was in a room beside the kitchen. Their children and father-in-law escaped the accident as they were in another room.

Local community representative Mufizur Rahman said he was at a nearby shop when he heard screams and came to know that Majid's wife had been buried under mud inside their house.

Locals immediately rushed to the spot and began rescue efforts. The fire service was later informed and joined the operation. After around one and a half hours of effort, Rozina Begum was recovered dead.

Syed Md Morshed Hossain, deputy assistant director of Cox's Bazar Fire Service and Civil Defence Station, said, "As soon as we received the information, two of our units reached the spot and began the rescue operation. After a long effort, the woman buried under mud was recovered. However, she had died before being rescued."

Authorities concerned have urged people living at the foot of risky hills to move to safer places as the risk of landslides has increased due to continuous rainfall.

Meanwhile, a two-year-old child drowned in floodwater in Pekua upazila around 9pm yesterday. The deceased was identified as Mushfiqur Rahim, son of Nasir Uddin of Balirpara area.

Quoting local sources and family members, it was learnt that the child was eating with his family at night. At one stage, unnoticed by his parents, he went outside the house holding a food bowl and fell into floodwater accumulated in front of the house.

When family members could not find him after some time, they began searching and later found him unconscious in the floodwater in front of the house. Locals declared him dead.

Confirming the incident, local union parishad member Sahedul Islam said, "The child came out of the house unnoticed by his parents and fell into the floodwater. Later, after a search, his body was found in front of the house."

In another incident, a child died after being swept away by floodwater in Khojakhali Jaldas Para of Kaiyarbil union in Chakaria upazila yesterday afternoon.

With the latest deaths, the number of people killed in landslides and floodwater since 4 July in Cox's Bazar district has risen to 31, including Rohingya refugees.