Floods hit Khagrachhari for the third time in 2 months

Incessant rain for two days flooded Khagrachhari for the third time in two months, inundating more than two dozen villages and snapping the road connections to Rangamati's Sajek and Langadu.

Hundreds of tourists had been stranded in the popular travel destination of Sajek on Friday night, but they were able to leave today afternoon when the water receded.

The low-lying areas of Dighinala upazila and Tobong at Sadar Upazila in the hilly district were submerged as the water of the Maini River in Dighinala kept rising amid unrelenting rain.

The croplands of the Merung and Kobakhali unions of Dighinala also went under water.

Dharma Joity Chakma, chairman of Dighinala Upazila Council, said 25 villages of these two unions have been inundated by flash floods.

The local authorities opened 10 flood centres for the affected people, he said. He urged the flood-affected to take shelter in the flood centres.

Along the Chengi River in Sadar upazila, floodwater partially inundated homes of the areas near the river and hill streams .

In Rangamati, Sajek Resort Owners Association Vice-President Joy Tripura and Baghaichhari Upazila Executive Officer Shirin Akter said around 400 tourists were stranded in the area on Friday night.

Finally, the vehicles and tourists were able to leave around 2:00pm.

Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Md Sahiduzzaman said the authorities have opened flood centres and were ready to tackle any situation.