Around 5000 families have been marooned in seven upazilas the district due to a flash flood triggered by incessant rain for the last four days.

 "The people who had been living at the foothills amid risk have been evacuated. In some areas, incidents of landslide have occurred but no casualty has been reported," said Mizanul Haque Chowdhury, deputy commissioner of the district.

District administration official sources said low lying areas of Lama, Thanchi, Ruma, Rowangchhari, Alikadom, Nykongchhari and Sadar upazilas of the district have gone under 5-6 feet of water.

Army Para, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Islampur, Member Para, Officer's club, and Hafezghona in Bandarban municipal area have been flooded.

District administration and municipality authorities have opened shelter centres for the flood-hit people.

General secretary of Bandarban Bus Owners' Association, Jhantu Das said road communications between the district and other parts of the country remained suspended since Saturday noon as many roads and bridges have gone under water. Many tourists have been stranded in the district.

Soil and Water Preservation Centre office of the district recorded 156 mm of rainfall in the district in 24 hours till 7:00pm today.

Sangu and Mathamuhuri were flowing above the normal level due to onrush of water from the hills.

"The Bandarban Disaster Management Committee met today evening and directed the local administration to distribute food and water to the flood-affected people," said the DC.

Defying the risk of landslide, many people live in risky houses constructed on hill slope areas, like this one in the district. PHOTO: STAR

He added that many areas in the district were inundated and many families were forced to take shelter in schools and cyclone shelters.

Bandarban Municipality Mayor Md Jabed Reza and Lama Municipality Mayor Md Amir Hossain said 14 shelters were set up in the affected areas and food, water, and other daily necessities will be distributed among the flood-stricken people.

Bandarban district administration yesterday asked the people living on the hills to leave the risky areas amid fear of landslide due to the incessant rain for the last few days.

Around 50,000 people in the hill district are living at the foot of the hills ignoring the risk of landslide.

Many thatched and semi-pucca houses have been built in Kashempara, Banorupa para, Bus Station, Siddique Nagar, and Sikdarpara areas in Sadar upazila, which become very risky in the rainy season.