One killed, 3 injured in Ctg landslide

At least one person was killed and three others were injured in a landslide in Akbarshah area of Chattogram yesterday.

Three units of fire service rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation, said Abdullah Harun Pasha, deputy assistant director of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Nurul Alam, in-charge of Chattogram Medical College Hospital police outpost, said a man named Mohammad Khoka, 45, was declared dead by duty doctors when brought to CMCH.

According to fire service and police sources, the accident took place around 5:20pm when 10 workers were cutting a hill the in Beltoli Ghona area.

"Our rescue operation is underway. Locals said five male and five female labourers were cutting the hill," Fire Service DAD Harun Pasha said.

"We are seeing if anyone else is trapped underneath," he said.

According to Senior Assistant Commissioner of Chattogram District Administration Touhidul Islam, the number of casualties may increase.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Abul Bashar Mohammad Fakhruzzaman visited the spot.

He told The Daily Star that the Chattogram City Corporation was constructing a road beside the hill and for that reason, a guide wall was being constructed.

The DC said the hill has been cut steeply which is risky, adding, "For this, we have approached the army for technical assistance. A team from Army Engineering Department will visit the spot and assist us in ensuring safety."

A mobile court on February 11, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate of Kattali Circle Omar Faruk, was conducted in the area of the accident site, where a man was jailed and an excavator seized.

Based on land records, Omar Faruk said, the hill is in the name of Agrani Bank Officers Cooperative Housing Society on about 11 acres of land under the Latoy Pahartali Mouza in Akbarshah area.

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury could not be contacted for his comment as he did not receive the phone while the cellphone of CCC Chief Engineer Rafiqul Islam was found switched off.

The Chattogram District Administration formed a seven-member probe body to investigate into the incident.

The committee led by Additional District Magistrate of Chattogram Rakib Hasan was asked to submit the probe report in five working days.