Dozens of tourists stranded by heavy rains in Bandarban; travel suspended across region
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A group of 79 tourists and local guides remained stranded in a remote area of the Bandarban district on Tuesday after relentless monsoon rains triggered flash floods and hazardous travel conditions. The group, which had been visiting the Nafakhum waterfall, was forced to spend a night in the wilderness before reaching the relative safety of Remakri Union.
Thanchi Upazila Executive Officer Mohammad Abdul Al-Faisal confirmed that all 69 tourists and their 10 guides are currently accounted for and in good health. Officials have advised the group to remain in Remakri until the weather improves and the surrounding water levels subside, at which point they will be cleared to travel back to the district headquarters.
বিজ্ঞাপন
The Bandarban Meteorological Observatory reported 110 millimeters of rainfall over the previous 24-hour period, a level classified as “very heavy” precipitation. According to Sanatan Kumar Mandal, an official at the observatory, the region is bracing for continued extreme weather, with forecasts indicating that heavy rains could persist through July 11.
The surge in rainfall has caused water levels in mountain streams, waterfalls, and rivers to rise sharply, rendering the steep, treacherous terrain leading to Nafakhum—located 118 kilometers from the district center—incredibly dangerous. In response to the escalating risk, local authorities announced an immediate closure of all tourist attractions across the Bandarban district effective until July 12.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Local administration has dispatched a rescue team equipped with life jackets to assist the stranded party in Remakri. Authorities have issued a stern warning against any travel through the mountainous region until the weather stabilizes, noting that the combination of torrential rain and flash flooding has made traditional forest paths dangerously slippery and prone to landslides.
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