6,558 vulnerable settlements: Ctg braces for new landslides, flooding amid incessant heavy downpour

At least 6,558 settlements in the hilly areas of Chattogram city are vulnerable to landslides as heavy rainfall, fueled by a low-pressure in the Bay of Bengal, continued to descend on the port city since Thursday (12 September) night.

Besides, the incessant downpour has also heightened the risk of flooding in the low-lying areas.

The city's Hill Management Committee has identified the vulnerable settlements in 26 hills.

Among these, the Kattali land circle, home to over 4,500 precarious settlements, is at high risk, Arafat Siddiqui, assistant commissioner (Land) of the circle, confirmed to The Business Standard.

Residents in the identified vulnerable areas have been warned and asked to evacuate to safety by local administrations. But officials say their warnings are not being heard.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has also issued warnings in this regard, advising caution for those living in the vulnerable hilly areas.

According to the BMD, the low-pressure in the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify, affecting Chattogram and other regions, including Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, and Barisal.

The BMD has instructed seaports in Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla, and Payra to display local warning signal number 3 due to the unstable weather conditions.

Coastal communities and those in at-risk areas have been advised to remain vigilant.

"Despite warnings, residents have not yet evacuated," said Commissioner Arafat.

Low-pressure to intensify, rainfall to prolong

A release from the Patenga Meteorological Office stated that the heavy rain is being driven by a low-pressure in the northwest Bay of Bengal. Fishing boats and trawlers have been advised to remain near the coast until further notice as rough seas and strong winds are expected.

"The incessant rainfall has been consistent since Thursday night, increasing in intensity from Friday morning. The Chattogram seaport has been instructed to hoist local warning signal number 3 due to the stormy weather," Abdul Barek, a forecast officer at the Patenga office, told TBS.

According to the Patenga Meteorological Office, Chatogram recorded 118 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours leading up to 3pm on Friday (13 September).

According to the data, the downpour intensified during the day, with 45mm of rainfall recorded between noon and 3pm. The rain is expected to persist until Saturday night, further heightening concerns of landslides and flooding in low-lying areas.

Chattogram has a tragic history of deadly landslides, with more than 300 fatalities in the last 16 years. Illegal hill-cutting under various projects has worsened the situation. Even as authorities continue to crack down on such illegal activities with fines and jail times, the razing of hills remains rampant.  

In 2007, 127 people were killed in 11 landslides, sparking calls for stricter control over illegal hill settlements.

Landslides have continued to occur almost yearly, with the latest fatal incident in 2022 claiming two lives in the Akbar Shah area.

Chattogram is prone to flooding and landslides amid heavy rainfall. The district has already experienced several floods this year. 

In late August, nine upazilas of the coastal district went under water killing several and leaving over 2.5 lakh people marooned as water levels of Feni and Gomti rivers rose to 1 to 2 metres above the danger level.

Besides, according to experts, unplanned development in the city has made it prone to waterlogging throughout the year.