Chattogram Bureau: Dhaka, Jul-30,

Although heavy downpours unleashed landslides in the hills of Lalkhan Bazar and Ambagan Floorpass of Chattogram city Thursday, no casualties were reported.

However, steady rains in various parts of the port city and resulting landslides obstructed traffic on several roads.

Following the incidents, the district administration relocated five families from the affected areas and cleared the debris.

Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mominur Rahman said, "The district administration and the Fire Service and Civil Defence officials visited the spots and are taking stock of the situation."

"Amid concerns about more landslides, the district administration has taken steps to relocate people from the risky areas," Mominur added.

On Wednesday night, more than 400 people living in the hills of Chattogram city were shifted as steady rains continued.

The landslide concerns caused the district administration to immediately relocate the families living in the hills of Lalkhan Bazar, Motijharna, Batali Hill, Akbar Shah, Hill-1, Hill-2 and Bayezid Link Road in the wake of heavy monsoon rain for the last few days.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecast nearly 570mm of accumulated rainfall between July 27-30 and issued warnings of heavy rain and risk of landslides in some hilly regions of Chattogram division.

Hilly areas of Chattogram are especially vulnerable to landslides because of widespread deforestation in the hills. On Tuesday, seven people were killed, including five Rohingyas, in landslides triggered by over 20 hours of rain from Monday onwards.

Environmentalists say the number of people living at risk in the hills of Chattogram is around 1 lakh. From 2007 to 2020, more than 200 people lost their lives in landslides in Chattogram.

The highest landslide fatalities occurred in 2007 when 127 people died on June 11. Besides, 30 people were killed in a 2017 landslide.

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