Dhaka, June 30: At least 70 people have been killed and thousands affected by landslides and incessant rains that have lashed Bangladesh for the last few days, reports said. Areas worst affected include southeastern Chittagong, Khagrachari and Brahmmanbaria districts, where nearly 50,000 people have either been marooned or forced to leave.
At least seven people were reportedly washed away in southeastern Chittagong and Rangamati hill districts yesterday by flood water. Landslides killed three men in neighbouring Khagrachari district and lightning during heavy downpour killed two men in Brahmmanbaria district, reports said.
Meanwhile, officials of Flood Forecasting Centre (FFC) warned that the situation might worsen within a week. They said due to heavy and continuous downpour in the northern districts, flash floods may occur in the Meghna basin especially in the districts of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj and Netrokona in the northeast.
Monsoon floods have also inundated nearly 20 of Bangladesh's 64 districts, damaging crops and submerging roads. Hundreds of huts have been washed away and many people forced to leave their homes.
Communication links between port city Chittagong and adjoining three hilly district also remained disrupted yesterday, reports said.
The other districts affected by early floods included Comilla and Noakhali.
Bureau Report