Fourteen killed in nor'wester
At least 14 people were killed and scores injured as a nor'wester lashed Dhaka and different northwestern districts yesterday.
Five people, including a child, were killed in Bogra and four in Rajshahi, while one each was killed in Dhaka, Naogaon, Natore, Pabna and Sirajganj, according to our reporters from different districts.
The storm damaged hundreds of houses in Dhaka, Bogra, Naogaon, Natore, Chapainawabganj, Pabna and elsewhere.
The electricity lines were snapped as power poles fell over in many areas across the country. Transport movement on different highways was disrupted due to trees felled in storms.
Meteorologist Bazlur Rashid told The Daily Star last night that the nor'wester was already forecast and there is a possibility of another today.
He said there were several such storms earlier in this season, but yesterday's had the highest velocity.
The ferry services in the Padma remained suspended for at least an hour -- from 7:45pm on the Mawa-Kaorakandi route and from 6:30pm on Paturia-Daulatdia.
A ferry carrying around 200 passengers ran aground in a Padma char on Mawa-Kaorakandi route during the storm and remained stuck there for over three hours.
In Keraniganj, on the outskirts of the capital, Hanif Sheikh, 45, a boatman, was fatally injured when he was sandwiched between two launches that lost control in the high wind. He was declared dead when brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
According to the Met office, the storm hit the capital twice -- first around 7:15pm and then 9:15pm.
Two rickshaw pullers were hurt as a cluster of billboards and tree branches fell on them near Shishu Park around 7:15pm. They were rushed to the DMCH.
The car of lawmaker Haji Selim, a police van, three minibuses and several rickshaws were hit by the fallen billboards, said Shibli Noman, assistant commissioner (Ramna zone) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
The MP, who was inside the car, was unhurt, said the AC.
Fire service and police teams later conducted a rescue operation there.
A youth was injured as a tin sheet fell on him at Nilkhet in the capital. He was identified as Jakaria, 28. At Dholaipar, auto-rickshaw driver Abu Hossain, 50, was hit by bricks from a nearby under-construction building.
Both of them were whisked off to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
During the storm, tree branches also fell on roads at Nabisco, near Banani Rail Station and Kakrail, according to fire service sources.
Duty officer Azizul Haque of Dhaka Railway Police Station said schedules in different regions were hampered due to slowing down of trains on different routes and late departure from stations amid storms.
In Bogra, the storm lasted 15 minutes from around 6:00pm. Hasiran Begum, 35, got killed and 10/12 people were injured as a boundary wall collapsed at Nataipara area in the town.
An eight-year-old boy from the same area was also killed but his identity or how he was killed could not be known immediately.
Thanda Mia, 35, of Radhanagar village under Shahjahanpur upazila in the district was killed when a tree fell on him. Rabeya Bewa, aged over 60, of Hasira village in the same upazila was killed as her house collapsed.
In Sariakandi upazila, Sujan Mia, 30, of Hatfulbari was electrocuted when a tree fell on his tea stall.
In Bagha upazila of Rajshahi, Imajuddin Majhi, 50, died when a portion of the Padma River bank collapsed on his boat. Another person on the boat was injured and he was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
Jahanara Begum, 60, of Pakuria village of the same upazila was killed being knocked by a falling tree.
Abdul Hakim, 40, of Bargachi village in Poba upazila was killed in lightning. In Godagari upazila, Monowara Begum, 65, of Ashariadaha village was killed when their mud wall collapsed on her.
In Pabna town, Jamuddin Baks, 65, was seriously injured when a tree fell on his tea stall around 8:00pm. Doctors at Pabna Sadar Hospital declared him dead around 9:00pm.
In Natore, a farmer was killed by lightning at Charpipla village under Gurudaspur upazila while returning home from field last night.
The deceased was identified as Khokon Hossain, 30, son of Maker Ali of village Charpipla village under Gurudaspur upazila.
The storm also damaged at least 150 houses in 20 villages, including Sonapatil, Tegharia, Bashila and Halti, in the district.
In Kazipur of Sirajganj, one Mozammel Hossain drowned as a boat sank in the Jamuna with 20/25 people on board around 8:00pm. The rest managed to swim ashore.
In Naogaon, Shahnaj Begum, 35, of Mahanagar village at Manda upazila was crushed to death by a collapsed mud wall. More than 50 houses of the district were ravaged.
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