Around two lakh people in Cox’s Bazar are marooned in floodwater due to incessant rain for the last couple of days.
Although the heavy rain stopped on Saturday night, but people of four coastal upazilas — Pekua, Maheshkhali, Ramu and Chakaria — have been suffering immensely. They are now staying at flood shelters.
Many houses, markets and roads remain under water. The commoners are facing an acute shortage of food and other necessary items as the relief activities are yet to get pace.
Around 80 percent area of Ramu and Pekua upazilas went under water. Five, out of 10 unions, in Cox’s Bazar Sadar upazila have been flooded.
Traffic on the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar highway declined sharply in the last four days. There is hardly any tourist now in the country’s most popular tourist spot.
The people of Pekua and Ramu are the worst sufferers as their villages go under water.
Some 21 people were reportedly killed in rain-induced incidents in the district till Saturday. However, there is no news of new casualty.
Contacted, Anupom Saha, acting deputy commissioner of Cox’s Bazar, said the relief activities couldn’t be sped up due to a breakdown in road communications.
Sources at the district’s relief and rehabilitation office said they had so far distributed Tk 17 lakh in cash and 230 metric tonnes of rice and other relief materials among the victims.
Besides, local lawmakers, other political party leaders, different social and cultural organisations are distributing relief stuff among the flood-hit people.
The army is also distributing relief goods among the affected people, said Ramu Cantonment Maj Kamal Pasha.
Reaz Ul Alam, Ramu upazila chairman, said the government relief efforts were inadequate.
Saimum Sarwar Komol, lawmaker of Cox’s Bazar Sadar constituency, said the relief activities would continue until the flood situation improved.
Source: The Daily Star
