Landslide on Lalkhan Bazar hill in port city

With mild to moderate downpour continuing in the port city, a big chunk of a hill slid in Lalkhan Bazar area yesterday morning.

However, no casualty occurred during the landslide, as the district administration evacuated a total of 35 families living in the slopes of the hill a few days ago as part of its ongoing eviction campaign to avoid casualties due to landslides.

Sharmin Akhter, assistant commissioner (land) of Agrabad circle in the city, told The Daily Star that a big chunk of the hill adjacent to Pora Mosque in Lalkhan Bazar area fell down during monsoon showers around 10:30am yesterday.

“A total of 35 families used to live in the slopes of the hill, who were evacuated a few days ago,” she said, adding, “They have been taken to a shelter opened by Chattogram District Administration.”

“We have been keeping the hills under surveillance, so that none can go back to their homes on the hill slopes,” she said, adding, “At the shelters, cooked and dry food are being provided to them.”

A total of 800 families -- who have been evacuated from hill slopes -- have been taken to eight shelters in the city, she added.