Nor'westers during this time of the year are not an uncommon occurrence. The last incident, which ripped through the country on Sunday, was quite anticipated but yet it caught us off guard as it led to the death of eight people in different parts of the country. Images of the devastation that the storm left in its wake were quite unsettling: trees in their hundreds uprooted, cell towers knocked down, crops devastated, boats and other vessels capsized. Dhaka was at the centre of the storm. It was a horrifying experience for those who were outdoors and caught unawares by the tropical storm, the first of the season, which hit the capital with a wind speed of 74 kmph.

The degree of the destruction makes us wonder if the authorities are at all prepared to tackle such weather events. The government should have a contingency plan in place for such occurrences. Awareness among the public, especially about what to do in case of such an event, is also vital. Unless we do that, we will continue to suffer.

Md Zillur Rahaman , Satish Sarker Road

Gandaria, Dhaka