19 shelter homes opened for hill slope residents

District administration in Chattogram has opened 19 shelter homes for people living at slope of hills, in the wake of heavy downpour in the port city.

Authorities urged people through loudspeakers to take shelter at those centres to avert casualties throughout yesterday at Lalkhan Bazar, Koibollodam area, Arefin Nagar, Baizid, Akbar Shah and Firoj Shah Colony areas.

Chattogram has been experiencing moderate to heavy downpour for the last three days.

Thousands of people, mostly from lower income groups, live at makeshift shanties built at the slopes of hill or by razing hills. According to the district administration, 17 hill slopes across the port city are being occupied by such settlements.

In 2007, some 127 people died at Motijhorna area of Lalkhan in a massive landslide, prompting authorities to take cautionary measures to protect people since then.

Touhidul Islam, executive magistrate of Chattogram district administration, told The Daily Star that six executive magistrates were engaged to move people from the risky part of hills.

Deputy Secretary of Chattogram district administration asked them to work in collaboration with local councilors.

In 24 hours till 3pm yesterday, Chattogram experienced 49.06mm rainfall, which is expected to continue for another 24 hours, Megnad Tanchangya, assistant meteorologist of Chattogram Met Office told The Daily Star.