Floodwaters Claim Teenager in Chakaria

The body of a 13-year-old boy who was swept away by powerful floodwaters in Chakaria upazila of Cox’s Bazar has been recovered after an extensive rescue operation. Fire Service divers retrieved the body on Sunday afternoon, nearly 24 hours after the teenager disappeared in the strong current created by heavy monsoon rains and flash floods.

The victim, Sujit Das, was the son of Tufan Das from Jaldaspura village in Kaiyarbil Union. His death has left his family and the local community in mourning and serves as another reminder of the dangers posed by fast-flowing floodwaters during the monsoon season.

According to local residents, continuous heavy rainfall and hill runoff caused widespread flooding across the area, sending large volumes of water rushing over roads and into the Matamuhuri River. At around 3:00 pm on Saturday, Sujit was returning home with two companions along a road in Jaldaspura when he reportedly slipped into the floodwater.

Within moments, the powerful current swept him away before anyone could reach him. Local people immediately launched a search and rescue effort, but despite their best attempts they were unable to locate the boy. The incident was subsequently reported to the Fire Service, which began a formal rescue operation.

Mokki Iqbal Hossain, Chairman of Kaiyarbil Union Parishad, said rescuers responded shortly after the accident. However, exceptionally strong currents and difficult conditions significantly hampered the operation. After nearly a full day of searching, Sujit’s body was eventually found on Sunday afternoon near the Matamuhuri River in the Jaldaspura area.

Didarul Haque, Officer-in-Charge of the North Zone of the Cox’s Bazar Fire Service, said the rescue mission proved particularly challenging because of the force of the floodwaters. To strengthen the operation, a specialised diving team was brought in from Chattogram. Their efforts ultimately led to the recovery of the teenager’s body at around 3:00 pm on Sunday.

Following the completion of the required legal procedures, the body was handed over to the victim’s family through the local Union Parishad representative.

The tragedy has highlighted the risks associated with moving through flood-affected areas during periods of intense rainfall. Local authorities have urged residents, particularly children, to avoid crossing roads covered by fast-moving water, warning that even shallow flood currents can become extremely dangerous and lead to fatal accidents.