Rescue teams save injured university student from remote Hamham waterfall after heavy rains

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A group of ten university students visiting the remote Hamham waterfall in Moulvibazar was rescued on Friday afternoon after one member of the party sustained serious injuries in the rugged terrain. The incident occurred as heavy seasonal rains rendered the mountain trails and rocky paths exceptionally slick, complicating the group’s trek from Dhaka.

Tanvir Ahmed, 29, suffered a severe arm injury at approximately 2:30 p.m. after slipping while navigating the waterfall’s path. Unable to traverse the difficult mountain trail on his own, the student’s companions contacted the national emergency service, 999, to request assistance.

Local police in Kamalganj received word of the emergency by 3:00 p.m. and immediately launched a coordinated rescue mission involving the tourist police, fire service personnel, and local volunteers. Rescuers arrived at the site to find the group stranded, with Ahmed unable to walk.

Akhtar Hossain, the team leader from the Sreemangal Fire Service station, noted that the adverse weather conditions made the trek to the waterfall perilous. Because it was impossible for the injured student to hike back, the rescue team constructed an improvised stretcher using bamboo, sacks, and available supplies. Rescuers then carefully navigated the steep, slippery terrain to bring the group to safety by 4:45 p.m.

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Following the extraction, Ahmed received initial medical attention before being transported to the Sreemangal Upazila Health Complex for further treatment. The remaining nine students were reported to be in good health.

Prajit Kumar Das, an inspector for the Sreemangal zone of the Tourist Police, credited the successful operation to the seamless coordination between agencies despite the challenging environment. Following the incident, officials urged travelers to exercise extreme caution when visiting mountainous areas like Hamham during the monsoon season, warning that the combination of heavy rain and steep, inaccessible geography poses significant risks to tourists. The entire group has since departed for their destination following the conclusion of the medical intervention.