Flood, landslides in Ctg: Death toll rises to 43, affect nearly 8.7 lakh people

At least 43 people have died and nearly 8.7 lakh people have been affected by heavy rainfall, floods and landslides across five districts of Chattogram division in the last five days, according to the latest government disaster situation report.

The disaster summary, prepared today (11 July), shows that Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban have all suffered extensive damage from days of incessant rainfall and hill torrents, prompting authorities to continue rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Death toll rises to 43

According to the report, Chattogram recorded 11 deaths, followed by Cox's Bazar with 23, including 13 Rohingya refugees. Rangamati reported three deaths and Bandarban six, taking the total death toll across the division to 43.

Another 39 people have been injured, including 12 in Chattogram, 24 in Cox's Bazar, one in Khagrachhari and two in Bandarban. Five of the injured in Cox's Bazar are Rohingya refugees.

Nearly 8.7 lakh people affected

The report said 8,66,614 people have been affected by the disaster across the five districts.

Chattogram accounted for the largest share with 6,62,000 affected people, followed by Cox's Bazar with 1,58,027. Khagrachhari reported 34,417 affected people, Rangamati 3,820 and Bandarban 8,350.

To accommodate displaced residents, authorities have opened 1,727 shelters across the division. Of these, 670 are in Chattogram, 640 in Cox's Bazar, 220 in Bandarban, 150 in Khagrachhari and 47 in Rangamati.

A total of 37,055 people are currently staying in the shelters, including 22,600 in Chattogram, 4,745 in Bandarban, 3,820 in Rangamati, 2,974 in Cox's Bazar and 2,916 in Khagrachhari.

Relief distribution continues

The report says authorities have distributed a total of 1,091.6 tonnes of rice, Tk91.1 lakh in cash assistance and 34,470 dry food packets across the five districts.

Chattogram alone received 540 tonnes of rice, Tk43 lakh in cash support, 30,700 dry food packets and 17,250 cooked meal packets.

Cox's Bazar received 181 tonnes of rice, Tk17.075 lakh and 330 dry food packets.

Rangamati was allocated 235 tonnes of rice and Tk20 lakh.

Khagrachhari received 67.6 tonnes of rice, Tk8 lakh and more than 20,000 food packets alongside 487 dry food packages.

In Bandarban, relief included Tk2.4 lakh for seven upazilas, 2,953 dry food packets, 235 packets of baby food, diapers and sanitary napkins. Non-governmental organisations also distributed another 1,845 dry food packets. Additionally, the district received allocations of 68 tonnes of rice and Tk10.5 lakh.

Authorities also reported maintaining reserve stocks of 1,213.4 tonnes of rice, Tk1.87 crore in cash, 1,744 dry food packets and 300 packets of baby food for further emergency response.

Roads damaged, rail link disrupted

Heavy rainfall has damaged 241.31 kilometres of roads in Chattogram South.

The Roads and Highways Department reported damage to 32.23 kilometres of national highways, 33.07 kilometres of regional highways and 176 kilometres of district roads. Estimated repair costs stand at Tk34.55 crore for short-term works and Tk210.29 crore for long-term reconstruction.

Rail communication with most parts of the country remains normal. However, train services on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar route remain suspended after about 400 metres of track near Shomser Para, close to Kalurghat Bridge, went under approximately 1.5 feet of water. Railway authorities expect services on the route to resume from Sunday.

Agriculture, fisheries suffer heavy losses

The Department of Livestock Services estimated livestock losses in Chattogram Division at Tk27.18 crore.

The Department of Fisheries reported damage to 12,346 ponds and 358 fish enclosures, with estimated losses of about Tk91 crore.

Agricultural damage has also been extensive.

The report said 12,743.1 hectares of standing Aush paddy, 1,812.16 hectares of Aman seedbeds, 2,594.17 hectares of summer vegetables, 156 hectares of betel leaf, 747.1 hectares of ginger and turmeric, 651.1 hectares of horticultural crops and 240 hectares of other standing crops were affected by the disaster.

In Cox's Bazar alone, 20,960 Aush farmers, 5,640 Aman seedbed farmers, 14,325 vegetable growers and 3,120 betel leaf farmers have been affected.

Government steps up response

The report said district administrations have intensified disaster preparedness by conducting public announcements in vulnerable areas, deploying around 10,000 volunteers from the Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP), Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, YPSA and Ansar, and ensuring safe drinking water, sanitation, lighting, security and food for children at shelters.

Medical teams, quick response teams, emergency medicines, water purification tablets and other essential supplies have also been pre-positioned, while control rooms remain operational at district and upazila levels. Rescue teams continue to monitor landslide-prone areas, and separate technical teams are working to restore electricity and communication services.

The government has also cancelled the weekly holidays on 11 and 12 July to strengthen administrative response in the affected districts.

The report added that State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit chaired a coordination meeting in Chattogram today to review rescue, relief and rehabilitation activities before visiting flood- and landslide-hit areas in Banshkhali and distributing relief among affected families.