New Delhi: On Wednesday, 8 children died and 5 were injured in a land slide following heavy rains in the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The accident happened in a madrasa built on a hill slope. Due to continuous rain for several days, the soil of the hill slipped and the Madrasa got buried under the soil and debris.
The rescue team pulled out 13 children, but the lives of 8 children could not be saved. The injured children are being treated in the camp hospital. The weather department has predicted heavy rain in the coming days also. Due to this, there is a danger of landslides and sudden floods. This accident has happened at a time when a few days ago, 8 people had died in separate land slides caused by rain in Rohingya camps in the same area. Amidst the continuous rain, the administration has appealed to the people to be cautious and move from high-danger areas to safe places.
Cox’s Bazar has the world’s largest Rohingya refugee camp. More than 12 lakh Rohingya refugees live here. Most of these people came to Bangladesh after the military action in Myanmar in 2017. A large number of people live in temporary houses built on the hill slopes. Therefore, every year during monsoon the risk of land slides increases.
Why do landslides happen?
Most of the houses in Rohingya camps are made of bamboo and tarpaulin. These houses are built on the hill slopes. Due to continuous rain, the soil becomes waterlogged and becomes weak. After this the soil starts sliding downwards. This is called land slide. Houses and buildings affected by it suffer huge damage.
Danger increases every year in monsoon
Bangladesh receives heavy rains during monsoon from June to September. Its effect is more visible in the hilly areas of Cox’s Bazar. Land slides have occurred here many times in the past after heavy rains. This time too, two major accidents have taken place within a few days, in which many people including children have lost their lives.
Will have to remain alert in future also
The weather department has predicted more rain in the coming days. In view of this, the administration has issued an alert regarding land slides and sudden floods. Some families living in danger areas are being sent to safer places. But still a large number of people are living in such areas where there is danger during heavy rains.
This incident in the Rohingya camp shows that people living in continuous rain and vulnerable hilly areas are most at risk. In view of the alert of the Meteorological Department, caution will be necessary in the coming days also. In such a situation, it is very important to take people to safe places and keep an eye on the dangerous areas.
Comments are closed.