Rangamati turning around after devastating landslides

Rangamati is slowly but surely returning to normal life as it licks its wounds following the landslides that killed 118 in the southeastern hill district last week.

The four filling stations in the town have reopened and auto-rickshaws are charging fare like before.

Shops have reopened too with prices of essentials a little bit high.

The work to repair the damaged roads is under way. Water and power connections have been restored.

More people are seen at the shops and streets despite rains.

Many of those who were taken to shelters after the mudslides had started are now looking for safer places now, while some others have opted to repair their homes.

Nurul Islam, a resident of Notun Parha in the town, said his family returned home last Wednesday after cleaning the mud that entered the house the previous day.

"Not feeling that much problem. The power connection has been restored," he told bdnews24.com on Monday.

The house rented by one Shah Alam in the same area was buried in the mudslide. He has rented another house now.

Nurul Alam, a carpenter, and his wife Laizu Begum built a tin-roofed house in the area around six years ago.

They have rented another house, but at Kathaltali, as the old one is under mud now.

According to the district administration's initial estimation, around 1,700 families, including 1,130 in Vevedi only, have fallen victim to the landslides.

After last week’s devastation, many families took refuge at the shelters opened by the local authorities. They went back home after the situation returned to normal.

However, many families fearing further landslides returned to the shelters when it started raining in Rangamati on Monday morning.

As many as 643 families have so far taken refuge in 19 shelters, according to Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Manzarul Mannan.

"The situation is improving. We are returning to normalcy. Prices are also going down," he said.

Local MP Ushaton Talukder told bdnews24.com that the people of the district were shocked by the deadly landslides, worst in Bangladesh in a decade.

"But the people of Rangamati never give up," he said.

The MP also said voluntary and tireless work have made up for the lack of modern rescue equipment and coordination.

The roads to Rangamati from other districts were so damaged in the landslides that links got cut off. The repair work is under way while goods are being taken to the district on boats.

Ushaton thanked the army's Engineering Corps for their effort to restore the road connections.