Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 1082 Sun. June 17, 2007  
   
Front Page


Ctg Tragedy
2 committees start probe


The two probe committees formed to investigate Monday's devastating mudslides that left 126 people dead in the port city launched its field-level work yesterday by visiting affected areas of Lebu Bagan and Kaichyaghona near Chittagong Cantonment and Pahartali.

The committee went to Lebu Bagan, Kaichyaghona and Ladies Club areas around noon and collected some samples of mud for testing and later on went to Pahartali Bazar.

The committee members talked to locals and members of the victims' families, enquired in details about the incident, and gathered information about the owners or occupiers of the hills as well as possible reasons behind the disaster, sources said.

It may be mentioned; the two committees, headed by Additional Divisional Commissioner (ADC) (Revenue) MAN Siddique, were formed on Wednesday night to investigate two incidents, the mudslide in Chittagong Cantonment area and Chittagong city and the collapse of a wall at Pahartali slum.

"Our committees started official work on Friday and we have already collected some documents and data relating to the two incidents," ADC Siddique said yesterday, adding, "Primarily, we found out that the upper portions of the hills were mostly sandy and soft."

As the lower portions were cut in an unplanned way the soft upper portions collapsed due to the excessive rainfall, he said.

The committee chief hoped they would be able to complete the investigations of both the incidents within the due seven-day time limit.