Staff Reporter:
Tourists trapped in tourist centres in Sajek have started leaving the valley as water has receded from the Baghaihat-Sajek road in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati.
Over 800 tourists got stuck there due to disruption to communications amid incessant rains and flash floods.
Baghaichhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shirin Akter said hundreds of tourists stranded in Sajek started leaving the valley as water receded on Wednesday.
“Several hundred tourists were trapped in Sajek valley as the Baghaihat-Sajek road was inundated amid flash floods. There was no rain on Wednesday. The water started receding. After observing the situation at afternoon, we have taken measures to evacuate them to Khagrachhari,” she said.
Sajek Valley Resort-Cottage Owners’ Association President Suporna Deb Barman also said the stranded tourists began leaving the valley.
“Most of the tourists who got stuck in the last two days have left the valley on Wednesday. The upazila administration arranged transport for them. Besides, they used the vehicles that got trapped here after carrying them to the valley,” she said.
According to locals, the water levels in Baghaihat Bazar and Machalong Bazar started to rise since Monday night. Due to the onrush of hilly water, the water of Kachalong River in Baghaichhari upazila was flowing over the danger level.