1 killed, 4 missing as fresh landslide hits Bandarban

A teenage girl was killed and at least four people went missing in a landslide triggered by torrential rain in Bandarban this morning, police said.

Locals and fire fighters recovered the body of Sing Moya La, 19, of Mong Swe Pru village in Ruma upazila, our local correspondent reports quoting Officer-in-charge (OC) of Bandarban Sadar Police Station Md Rafiqullah.

“Two of my sisters went missing in the landslide but later we found one’s body,” said the victim’s brother Chain Kya U.

Witnesses said the incident took place in Baishmile area on Bandarban-Ruma road around 9:30am when seven to eight persons were crossing the road.

They were the passengers of a bus but were crossing the road on foot as the road was severely damaged following the last month’s torrential rain and consequent landslides. Passengers are often forced to get down from vehicles on certain points due to its poor condition.

“I saw a huge chunk of mud fall on seven to eight people when they were crossing the road,” said Sumon, a witness to the disaster.

The rescue operation is being disrupted due to heavy rain and intermittent landslides in the area.

“Primarily, we think four to five people are beneath the mud,” the OC said.