Chittagong, June 26: At least 22 people were killed today in landslides and flash floods in Bangladesh, officials said. The victims were washed away by rushing waters or buried by landslides in several different places in the southeast of the country, which received 120 mm of rain in 24 hours, police and local administration officials said.

One person died in the southeastern port city of Chittagong, five others in the nearby town of Mirarshari and 16 in the southeastern Khagrathari hill district.

Local officials said a number of roads from Chittagong to the hill districts were closed because of landslides.

They said they were taking every measure to rescue people stranded by the flash floods and ensure a proper burial for the victims.

Earlier the flood forecasting centre said heavy rains today in the south eastern hill basin had triggered a "sharp rise" in the water level in several rivers, with some bursting their banks.

Calamity-prone Bangladesh has been hit by pre-monsoon squalls in the past week along with flash floods in northern and southeastern parts of the country.

At least 85 people have been killed in storms around Bangladesh since April, while a heatwave several weeks ago left another 62 dead.

Bureau Report