4 killed as nor'westers hit Tangail, Sirajganj

People sifting through ruins of tore down house (left) and a family under the open sky after Friday's nor'wster in Bhuapur in Tangail. PHOTO: STAR

Two of them were killed in Tangail in house collapse and the rest two in Sirajganj by lightning.

Our Tangail Correspondent reports: A nor'wester swept over 10 villages in Govindashi and Aloa unions in Bhuapur upazila Friday evening, leaving two people killed and about 100 including women and children injured.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The dead were identified as Alamgir Hossen, 40, of Rautbari village and Abul Hossen, 70, of Sthalkashi village. They were killed in house collapse.

Thirty-seen of the injured were admitted to Bhuapur Upazila Health Complex and 34 to Tangail General Hospital.

Police and locals said the storm that lasted about half an hour from 7 pm razed to the ground over 600 houses and badly damaged two schools--Konabari High School and Bhalkutia Primary School.

The worst affected villages are Bhalkutia, Kastapara, Konabari, Ruhulee, Sthalkashi, and Rautbari in Govindashi union and Charnikla, Barkatpur, Birchapra and Niklakhod in Aloa union.

Power supply was snapped as a large number of trees and electric poles were uprooted.

On information, lawmaker from the area and Deputy Minister for Information Abdus Salam Pintu rushed there, supervised the rescue operation and sent the injured people to hospitals.

He also distributed dry food, sharees and lungis among the affected people.

The Red Crescent Society in Tangail also distributed relief materials.

Local Agriculture Extension Department (AED) officials said IRRI-Boro paddy on at least 1000 acres, almost ready for harvest, have been damaged by the tornado.

Our Sirajganj Correspondent reports: Two people were killed and at least 100 injured when a nor'wester hit parts of Ullapara and Kazipur upazilas of the district Friday evening.

Hasmat Ali, 32 and Jel Haque Ali, 48, of Moheshakula village in Ullapara upazila were killed in lightning during the nor'wester. They were returning home from market, police and locals said.

The storm that also blew over parts of Kazipour upazila injure about 100 people including women and children.

At least 50 of the injured are being treated at Kazipur Health Complex and Sirajganj Sadar Hospital, sources in the hospitals said yesterday afternoon. Some others were shifted to clinics in Sirajganj town for better treatment, they said. At least 400 houses and were tore down and many trees uprooted by the tornado.

The worst affected villages Kunkunia, Dhekuria, Salauora, Shunogachha, Meghai, Alampur, Char Natipara, Simuldair, Shyampur, Chalita Danga. Muslimpara, Charpara. Khudbandhi and Singra Bari.

This correspondent during a visit to the areas saw affected people under the open sky. They said they did not get any help from any quarter.

State Minister of Power Ikbal Hasan Mahmud, Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner Aminul Bari Chowdhury and Police Superintendent Shahadat Hossain visited the affected villages Friday night.