A total of 461 tourists stranded in Sajek Valley of Baghaichari upazila in Rangamati due to heavy rainfall, landslides and disrupted road communication have been evacuated with assistance from the Bangladesh Army.
Of them, 311 tourists left Sajek on Friday morning after army personnel helped them cross flooded sections of roads by boats in the Machalong Bazar, Simanachhara and Baghaihat Bazar areas before continuing their journey by road.
Earlier on Thursday, 150 tourists were evacuated in the first phase, according to the Baghaihat Army Zone.
A total of 561 tourists had been stranded in Sajek Valley following several days of continuous rain, landslides and damaged road links. The army arranged boats and rafts to help them cross inundated areas.
Sources at the Baghaihat Zone said 150 tourists were taken to Khagrachhari on Thursday, while another 311 left Sajek on Friday. The remaining around 100 tourists will be evacuated in phases.
Rahul Chakma, organising secretary of the Sajek Cottage and Resort Owners’ Association, said stranded tourists were provided accommodation free of charge. They only had to pay for drinking water, he added.
Meanwhile, normal life in Rangamati has been severely affected by continuous rainfall and adverse weather conditions. The district administration has moved residents from landslide-prone areas to safer places.
So far, 3,524 people have taken shelter at 40 relief centres across the district.
Floodwaters have also inundated homes, croplands and low-lying areas in Baghaichari, Belaichari and Juraichari as water from upstream continues to flow into the region.
Thousands of people remain affected by the flooding, with many facing shortages of safe drinking water and food.
Landslides have disrupted traffic at several points on the Rangamati-Chattogram and Kaptai-Chattogram roads.
The district administration and Fire Service authorities have urged people living in vulnerable areas to move to shelters amid fears of further landslides.
