KHAGRACHHARI, 21 Aug: Heavy rain and mountain runoff have swelled the waters of the Maini and Kachalong rivers in Khagrachhari, leading to flooding along most of the Khagrachhari-Sajek road.
The waterlogging has trapped nearly 250 tourists in the Sajek area.
Around 30 villages in the Merung and Kabakhali Unions in Dighinala have been flooded. But, as the water level of the Chengi River has dropped, the flooding has eased a bit in Khagrachhari's Sadar Upazila.
There were five to six feet of water at Kabakhali, Baghaihat Bazar, Machalong Bazar and several other parts of the road to Sajek on Tuesday afternoon. This has led to a halt on all tourist vehicle service on the road.
"Traffic on the Sajek road has been suspended due to the water rising at different points," said Shirin Akhter, Baghaichari Upazila executive officer. "At least 250 tourists are stuck in Sajek. They will not be able to return today."
Aminul Islam and Wahid Kabir, two tourists stuck at Dighinala's Kabakhali, said: "We came from Dhaka's Keraniganj. We did not know about the flooding. Now we're stuck. The water has risen in two or three parts of the road. After travelling all this way on a motorcycle, we can't reach Sajek. We will stay in Dighinala for today [Wednesday]. We will continue to Sajek once the water recedes."
The floodwaters in Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila have begun to retreat as the water level of the Chengi River dwindles. The water has left the suburban areas, but locals are struggling to cope with several rounds of flooding.
Shanto Islam and Tofayel Mia, two residents of Muslim Para in Khagrachhari municipal town, say the area has been flooded several times, but they have yet to receive any aid or food.
But Nazmun Ara Sultana, Khagrachhari municipal administrator, says:
"Twelve tonnes of food materials have been allocated for flood victims. We have already distributed 2,550 packets of dry food."
The flooding situation in Dighinala is unchanged.
In addition, the flooding of the Dighinala-Langdu road in the Headquarter area has cut off Rangamati's Langdu from the rest of the country.
Ghonshyam Tripura, chairman of the Merung Union Panel says: "The flood victims who came to the shelters were given dry food and cooked khichuri. But, as the Maini River water has not receded, the situation is getting worse. Merung Bazar is still flooded."
BNP activists in the district handed out cooked food to flood victims on Tuesday night. —bdnews24.com
