Do More With Reuters
Partner Services

Bangladesh floods maroon thousands, landslides kill 6

Sat Jul 4, 2009 2:55pm IST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

DHAKA (Reuters) - Torrential rains triggered landslides and flash floods killing six people and stranding half a million in their homes in Bangladesh, officials said on Saturday.

The landslides occurred near Habiganj district town, some 200 km (125 miles) northeast of the capital Dhaka on Saturday, burying all six members of a family.

Officials said the situation had worsened at three other nearby districts, with some 500,000 people stranded at their homes as the rivers Surma and Khusiara, flowing into Bangladesh from northeastern India, burst their banks following incessant rains over the last four days.

"Hundreds of thatched houses were damaged, and standing crops on vast lands and rural infrastructures have been damaged," a senior disaster management official told Reuters without giving details.

The situation is likely to deteriorate as the Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecast more rains in the region including northeastern India.

Dubai Debt Fears

Villas are seen on the The Palm, Jumeirah, with Atlantis, The Palm, under construction on the breakwater (crescent), May 3, 2008.  REUTERS/Jumana El Heloueh

Banks outside the Gulf played down their exposure to Dubai debt, after fears the emirate could default and even derail world economic recovery prompted a sell-off in global markets.  Full Article | Slideshow 

People light candles at a vigil to commemorate the victims of last year's militant attacks in Mumbai, in front of the India Gate in New Delhi November 26, 2009. Mumbai held tearful memorials and police staged a show of strength on Thursday as India's financial hub marked the first anniversary of militant raids that killed 166 people and pushed up tensions with Pakistan. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri
One Year Later

Mumbai held tearful memorials and police staged a show of strength as it marked the first anniversary of militant raids that killed 166 people and pushed up tensions with Pakistan.  Slideshow | Full Coverage