All Stranded Tourists Safely Evacuated from Sajek

All tourists stranded in Sajek Valley for three days due to heavy rains and landslides have been safely evacuated with the assistance of the Bangladesh Army. Following the departure of 150 tourists on Thursday, the remaining 311 visitors left their resorts on Friday morning under army supervision, confirming a successful evacuation of all stranded individuals.

However, the flood situation in Rangamati's Baghaichhari upazila remains critical. Heavy downpours and upstream water have caused the Kachalong River to overflow, waterlogging nearly 30 villages. Approximately 4,000 residents have taken refuge across 16 local shelters.

Upazila Project Implementation Officer Suptashree Saha reported that almost all nine municipal wards and eight unions are flooded. The local administration is actively distributing cooked meals and dry rations to those displaced.

The severe weather has wreaked havoc across the wider district. Rangamati Meteorological Observatory recorded 130 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, triggering 104 landslides. According to Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi, around 4,500 people are currently housed in emergency shelters district-wide.

The disasters have also caused infrastructure damage and casualties. A landslide in Sapchhari compromised a 33 kV transmission line, causing an eight-hour power outage in Rangamati town. Tragically, three deaths have been linked to the severe weather: Lakshmi Bilash Chakma (60) died in a Baghaichhari landslide; Dalmoni Chakma was swept away by river currents, with his body recovered from Kaptai Lake; and grocery shop owner Md. Badiul Alam (45) remains missing after encountering heavy rains in Bilaichhari. Two children injured in a Kaptai landslide are currently receiving medical treatment.