JASHORE — A sudden Kalbaishakhi storm struck the heat-scorched district of Jashore on Thursday, killing at least one farmer, injuring 20 others and causing extensive damage across several villages, officials said.
The storm, which lasted more than two and a half hours, knocked out power across multiple villages after it hit on Thursday afternoon (April 16) along with lightning.
According to hospital, police and local public representatives, Jashore had been enduring unbearable temperatures for several days. But on Thursday afternoon, dark clouds gathered in the sky, and within minutes, a violent storm with lightning struck. At noon Thursday, Lutfor Rahman Sardar was on his way from his home to the field in Shahapur village of Monirampur upazila when he was killed on the spot by lightning. Farmer Abu Taher of Andulia village in Chougachha was also killed by lightning.
The storm hit the Parkhajura area of Mashwimnagar union in the upazila with similar intensity. Trees were uprooted at various locations, and the tin roofs of many homes were blown away. Trees fell on electric poles. Power supplies were cut off in that area as well as in Jhapa, Hariharnagar and Rajganj.
In Keshabpur, the Kalbaishakhi storm and hail caused extensive damage. Homes, trees and crops were severely damaged. In many places, fallen trees toppled electric poles. Nine people injured in the storm received treatment at the Keshabpur upazila health complex, two of whom were referred to Jashore General Hospital for further treatment.
According to the upazila agriculture office, the storm flattened paddy on about 150 bighas of land and caused major damage to mango and jackfruit crops. As of 7 p.m., power had not been restored in several unions of the upazila.
Alauddin, principal of Mulgram Darul Ulum Alim Madrasa in the upazila, said: “We haven’t seen a storm like this for a long time. A tree fell on the roof of our madrasa and caused major damage. Local farmers’ paddy, mango and jackfruit have all been heavily damaged. There is no power in the area.”
Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdullah Al Mamun said work is underway to assess the extent of crop damage. Farmers have suffered major losses because of fallen trees in various places, he said.
Anwarul Islam, deputy assistant community medical officer at the upazila health complex, said nine people had received treatment at the hospital by evening. They were out of danger, he said.
Mosharraf Hossain, deputy director of the district agriculture extension department, said the storm and rain did not cause major damage in Jashore. “Some boro paddy has flattened in places, but I don’t see much risk of damage. Jashore had 18 millimeters of rainfall. This rain is a blessing for paddy. Still, local agriculture officers have been instructed in case of damage anywhere.”
Hadiuzzaman, general manager of Jashore Palli Bidyut Samity-2, said the Kalbaishakhi storm caused extensive damage in Monirampur and Keshabpur. So far 16 electric poles have been broken, and trees have fallen on power lines in numerous places. “Our workers are working through the night, but it will not be possible to restore power everywhere,” he said.
Sheikh Abdul Qader, the district relief and rehabilitation officer, said reports of storm damage were coming in from various locations. There were reports of one death from lightning in Monirampur, he said. Local public representatives and officials have been instructed to assess the extent of damage, he said.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report