Two Children Killed in Separate Chattogram Landslides After Heavy Rainfall

Persistent torrential rain across the coastal district of Chattogram has triggered two separate landslides, resulting in the tragic deaths of two young children. The fatal incidents occurred on Wednesday morning and afternoon in the Sitakunda upazila and Chattogram metropolitan area, respectively. Alongside the two fatalities, the mother of one of the victims sustained severe injuries during the structural collapse.

The first disaster unfolded at around 9:00 AM in the Society No. 6 sector of Jangal Salimpur under Sitakunda upazila. Days of incessant downpours had severely destabilised the local hillside, causing a massive section of earth to break away and crash directly onto a makeshift residential dwelling below. Inside the house at the time of the collapse were ten-month-old Ashraful Islam Tanvir and his mother. The infant was struck by shifting soil and dislodged wooden structural pillars, causing him to die on the spot. Local residents rushed to the scene to dig through the debris, successfully rescuing the mother, who was transported to a medical facility with multiple injuries. The deceased child was identified as the son of Mo. Mohin Uddin, a resident of the area.

Later that day, at approximately 12:45 PM, a second landslide was reported in the Chashma Pahar neighbourhood under the Panchlaish police precinct of Chattogram city. Upon receiving the emergency call, a specialised rescue team from the Fire Service and Civil Defence deployed to the site to initiate an emergency recovery operation. Following a tense half-hour rescue effort, responders retrieved the body of twelve-year-old Sumaiya from beneath a heavy blanket of mud at around 1:15 PM.

Shah Imran, the Deputy Assistant Director of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence Zone-4, clarified the details of the second incident. He explained that Sumaiya’s parents had sensed the imminent danger just before the collapse and managed to flee the house safely. However, Sumaiya, who was occupying an adjacent room, became trapped as the structure caved in. She was completely buried under tonnes of mud and died at the scene. She was the daughter of Faruk Hossain.

The hill slopes of Chattogram remain highly susceptible to landslides during the monsoon season, particularly due to hill-cutting and unplanned settlements. Despite routine warnings and evacuation orders issued by the local administration, many families continue to live in these highly vulnerable zones, facing immense risks during periods of heavy rainfall.