On the first day, the authorities shifted over 200 people of some 60 families from several foothill slums of Motijharna at Lalkhan Bazar. They were to stay at Lalkhan Bazar Govt Primary School where the authorities had opened a temporary shelter.

Contacted, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Ashraf Shamim said all the ward commissioners of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) and all upazila nirbahi officers (UNO) of the district were instructed to identify the areas and people vulnerable to landslide or such disasters, so that they can be moved to safety.

"The process has just started and we would open more temporary shelters at places where it is required," he added.

The families evacuated yesterday from Lalkhan Bazar belong to only five out of around fifty colonies of Motijharna, one of the densely populated slums of the city.

Local Ward Commissioner Kabir Ahmad Manik said that they have been making announcements among the people living in the foothill slums through loudspeaker since Friday evening to leave their risky homes for the time being and take shelter at the centres.

Around one ton of rice, 50 kg lentil, 160 kg potato, 20 kg salt, three sacks of flattened-rice and 20 kg of molasses were distributed among the affected families as relief from the joint coordination centre of the joint forces and district administration yesterday, sources said.