Nor’wester wreaks havoc in five districts

Five people were killed and over 50 injured as a sudden nor’wester and lightning strikes swept across several districts on Thursday night, report our correspondents.

The region experienced strong winds, hailstorms, and lightning. Houses were damaged, trees uprooted, and electric poles knocked down, disrupting power supply in several areas.

In Shahapur village of Jashore, farmer Lutfar Rahman Sardar died after being struck by lightning while returning from the field.

Twenty people were injured in Jashore, while 16 electric poles were toppled, 50 trees uprooted and over 20 houses destroyed.

Keshabpur Upazila Agriculture Office said around 150 bighas of paddy fields were flattened, while mango and jackfruit orchards suffered significant losses.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdullah Al Mamun said assessments were underway to determine the extent of crop damage.

Mosharraf Hossain, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Jashore, however, said, “Some Boro paddy fields have leaned, but we do not expect major losses. About 18mm rainfall has been recorded, which is beneficial for paddy.”

Jashore Palli Bidyut Samity-2 general manager Hadiuzzaman said at least 16 power poles broken and numerous electric lines damaged by fallen trees in Manirampur and Keshabpur.

District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Sheikh Abdul Kader said local authorities had been instructed to assess losses.

In Jhenaidah’s Maheshpur, a woman named Rozina, 35, died after being struck by lightning, while another farmer was injured.

In Chuadanga’s Darshana, Alimul Azim, a ninth-grader of Memnagar DB Secondary School; and Russel Hossain, 25, a farmer of Ghoshnagar village, were killed in lightning strikes.

In Meherpur’s Gangni upazila, day labourer Jarjit Hossain, 50, was killed by lightning strike at Bhatpara village, according to local officials. Nine others were injured in Meherpur.

Meanwhile, in Gazipur, severe damage to agricultural crops was reported following a nor’wester storm accompanied by hail.

“Around 300 hectares of crops were destroyed in Sreepur in the storm, causing damage to nearly 1,800 tonnes of crops. Also, 300 families have been affected as numerous houses were either completely or partially damaged,” said Sreepur UNO Sajib Ahmed.

He added that emergency relief will be requested for the affected families. “A proposal will be made to allocate up to 30kg of rice per family. Once government allocation is received, distribution will begin immediately. For families whose homes were destroyed, a request for corrugated iron sheets will be sent through the Deputy Commissioner to the Department of Disaster Management,” he said.

Field visits revealed extensive damage in Bapta, Beildia, and Nandia Sangun villages under the upazila. Vast stretches of Boro paddy fields were seen flattened, with crops damaged completely on most fields.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Sumaiya Sultana said agricultural officials have been working to prepare list of affected farmers.