Floods damage 13,860 homes, 374 schools across Chattogram as 13 people die

Banshkhali and Satkania bear the brunt as days of torrential rain and hill runoff leave a trail of devastation

As floodwaters slowly retreat in Chattogram, the devastation left behind is coming sharply into focus.

A week of torrential rain and hill runoff has damaged 13,860 homes, 374 educational institutions, nearly 1,320km of roads, and 145 bridges and culverts across the district, the District Relief and Rehabilitation Office said on Monday.

District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Mohammad Masudur Rahman told bdnews24.com that the week-long downpour had caused extensive damage across the port city and surrounding Upazilas, adding that relief distribution and rehabilitation efforts were under way.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) recorded 412mm of rain on Jul 7, the highest in Chattogram in 42 years.

Floodwaters inundated roads and suspended rail services between Chattogram and Cox's Bazar. Landslides, collapsing walls and drowning claimed 13 lives.

The worst-hit areas were Banshkhali and Satkania. Around 60 percent of Banshkhali was flooded, damaging 4,519 homes and about 350 kilometres of roads.

In Satkania, 85 percent of the area went underwater, affecting 2,480 homes, 65 educational institutions, 187km of roads and nine bridges and culverts. Three people died in each Upazila.

Significant damage was also reported in Sandwip, Anwara, Sitakunda, Fatikchhari, Hathazari, Rangunia, Karnaphuli, Raozan, Boalkhali, Patiya, Chandanaish and Lohagara, with thousands of homes, hundreds of kilometres of roads, schools, bridges and culverts affected.

About 40 percent of Chattogram city's 24 wards also suffered waterlogging, damaging 2,246 homes, 50 educational institutions and 124km of roads.

Five deaths were recorded in the city, Sitakunda, Hathazari and Rangunia, with more fatalities in Satkania and Lohagara.

Speaking at a relief distribution event in Dohazari on Monday, State Minister for Power Aninda Islam Amit said the government would help repair damaged homes and rehabilitate affected families.

"Those whose farmland has gone underwater, whose fish farms have been washed away or whose livestock has been lost will receive government support to help them recover."

He added that the government had requested NGOs to suspend collecting July loan instalments from flood-affected people.