All 79 tourists who had been stranded at various spots in Thanchi of Bandarban have safely returned to their destinations.
Thanchi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdullah Al Faisal confirmed the development, saying the tourists were brought back to the upazila headquarters by Tuesday evening with assistance from the Tour Guide Association and local residents.
They then left for their homes on their own, he said.
Ong Pru Marma, former chairman of Tindu union parishad, said several tourists took shelter at his Shilagiri resort, where he waived accommodation charges during their stay.
Zakir Hossain, a student of Barishal Government College, said this was his first visit to Thanchi, where he witnessed the “fury of nature.”
He expressed gratitude for the support provided by local cottages, tour guides, residents, and the administration.
Mamunur Rashid, a senior member of the Thanchi Tour Guide Association, said tourists were escorted to the Thanchi tour office via mountain trails or by boat, often with life jackets for safety. They departed for their homes in stages using different forms of transport.
Meanwhile, reports from Ruma indicate that tourists who visited Keokradong peak, Sungsung para, and other locations on Sunday and Monday were initially unable to return due to bad weather.
They began arriving at the Ruma upazila headquarters on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.
