Hill runoff: Traffic resumes on Sajek road after a day

As many as 341 tourists were stranded in Sajek after road communication was cut off amid heavy rainfall

Vehicular movement from Khagrachhari to Rangamati’s Sajek Valley, a tourist hotspot, has resumed a day after hill runoff and continuous downpour submerged parts of the road.

Baghaichari Upazila Nirbahi (executive) Officer (UNO) Shireen Akhtar said normal traffic resumed around 11am on Wednesday.

“As there was no rain, water began receding from Machalong Bazar, Simanachhara, and Baghaichari Bazar in the morning. Later, around 11am, vehicles started moving again."

However, parts of the road still remain underwater.

Earlier on Tuesday, hill torrents caused flooding in the Machalong Bazar area of the Khagrachhari-Sajek road following uninterrupted rain, severing road communication and leaving 341 tourists stranded in Sajek.

With traffic returning to normal on Wednesday, those stranded in Sajek have begun returning to Khagrachhari, the UNO added.

Locals said that although all tourist vehicles were halted on Tuesday, many tourists managed to cross the flooded portion of the road using rafts or boats.

However, those who came in private vehicles returned to Sajek after being unable to cross. Others who came to visit Sajek but encountered the submerged road turned back from Baghaichari to Khagrachhari.