461 stranded tourists evacuated from Sajek Valley
Some 461 tourists, who had become stranded in Sajek Valley in Baghaichari upazila of Rangamati due to heavy rain, landslides and severed road communication, have been evacuated with the help of the Bangladesh Army.
Of the total, 311 tourists left Sajek on Friday morning after Army personnel helped them cross flooded stretches by boat in the Machalong Bazar, Simanachhara and Baghaihat Bazar areas before continuing their journey by road.
Earlier on Thursday, another 150 tourists were evacuated in the first phase, the Baghaihat Army Zone said on Friday morning.
A total of 561 tourists had been stranded in Sajek Valley following days of continuous rainfall, landslides and severed road links. The Army arranged boats and rafts to help tourists cross inundated sections of the road.
According to Baghaihat Zone sources, 150 tourists travelled to Khagrachhari in the first phase on Thursday, while the remaining 311 left the valley in the second phase on Friday. The remaining around 100 tourists will also be evacuated in phases.
Rahul Chakma, organising secretary of the Sajek Cottage and Resort Owners' Association, said stranded tourists were provided accommodation free of charge, although they were required to pay only for water.
Meanwhile, normal life in Rangamati has been disrupted by continuous rainfall and adverse weather, with the district administration shifting residents from landslide-prone areas to safer locations. So far, 3,524 people have taken shelter in 40 shelters across the district.
The flooding has also inundated homes, croplands and low-lying areas in Baghaichari, Belaichari and Juraichari as water from upstream continues to flow into the region.
Thousands of people have remained affected by the flooding and are facing shortages of safe drinking water and food.
Landslides have also disrupted traffic at several points on the roads of Rangamati-Chattogram and Kaptai-Chattogram.
The district administration and Fire Service have urged residents living in vulnerable areas to move to shelters amid fears of fresh landslides.