Date:12/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/12/stories/2007061206111400.htm

International

Mudslides kill 80 in Bangladesh

Haroon Habib

DHAKA: At least 80 persons were killed and many more reported missing in mudslides triggered by torrential rain in Chittagong city and its suburbs in southern Bangladesh on Monday.

Unconfirmed reports said the casualty figure could increase as many villagers living in the foothills were believed to have been washed away or buried by mud-mixed rainwater rushing down the hills.

Army troops and rescue workers from the civil administration began a massive operation immediately after the deluge but found the job difficult due to inclement weather. Torrential rain during the past two days flooded most parts of Chittagong city, bringing vehicular traffic and life almost to a standstill. Flights to the Shah Amanat International Airport in the city have been suspended.

Officials said the landslides had buried dozens of homes in hilly areas around the city of five million. Home after home was buried in tonnes of mud and rescue workers have failed to reach them, they said.

The heavy rain forced suspension of transmission by the Kalurghat radio station in the city as it went under 6-foot water. Work in the Chittagong port also stopped for hours due to the incessant rain. A five-member family, including a university student, was buried under the collapsed boundary wall of Chittagong University.

President Iajuddin Ahmed, Chief Advisor to the caretaker Government, Fakhruddin Ahmed are monitoring the situation.