Seven killed as season’s first nor’wester wreaks havoc [ Tritiyo Matra News ]

Seven killed as season’s first nor’wester wreaks havoc

Local April 01, 2019

At least seven people were killed, including three in the capital Dhaka, as nor’wester with rain and thunderstorm lashed different parts of Bangladesh Sunday evening.
The nor’wester, also called Kalbaishakhi, left a trail of disasters in the capital, causing uprooting of trees, electric poles and a cell phone tower, some of which fell across roads blocking traffic.
The capital plunged into darkness as soon as the nor’wester hit around 6:00pm which was accompanied by gusty wind blowing up to 74 km per hour.
Authorities closed down river routes and operations of flight at Shah Jalal International Airport in Dhaka remained suspended for about two hours.
The fire service control room said that their teams were working in at least 15 points in the capital clearing streets blocked by uprooted trees and electricity poles.
A cell phone tower was also brought down at Mohakhali.
Hanif Mia, a street tea vendor, was killed after bricks fell on his head from a nearby high-rise building, apparently by the impact of the wind.
Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police outpost in-charge Bachchu Mia said that the vendor died around 7:00pm.
A 62-year-old woman, Lili De Costa, died on the spot when a tree branch fell on her head while she was taking a stroll on Lake Road around 6:00pm, said Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station officer in-charge Jane Alam Munsi.
Mirpur police station sub-inspector Ashikur Rahman said that a private car driver Dulal Mia, 35, who lived in a tin-shed next to an under-construction building at Shewrapara died on the spot inside his room when his roof caved in after a wall on the third-floor collapsed at 6:00pm.
The Paturia-Daulatdia river crossing was shut for an hour after 5:15pm.
The BIWTA assistant director Faridul Islam said that the crossing opened but plying of small boats was terminated until the situation improved.
Ferry operation on Shimulia-Kathalbari route remained suspended for one and half hours from 6:00 pm, said Shimulia ferry jetty assistant manager Profulla Chouhan.
Met Office in Dhaka said that the nor’wester lashed the entire country throughout Sunday.
In just an hour the Met Office recorded 17 mm rainfall in Dhaka.
People living in Science Laboratory, Elephant Road and Hatirpool areas called New Age office to learn about the extent of the damage caused by the nor’wester as electricity connection was not restored in their area till writing of the report at 9:30pm.
‘It has been four hours that we were without power and candle price already doubled,’ said Ahmed Ali, a resident of Science Laboratory area.
News agency UNB reported that four people were killed in lightning strikes in Habiganj, Kishoreganj and Moulvibazar districts.
In Moulvibazar, two minor sisters died after a thunderbolt struck them at Patanushar village in Kaliganj upazila, reported UNB.
The deceased were identified as Sadia Akhter, 6, and Munni Akhter, 4, daughters of Junayed Mia of the village.
The thunderbolt hit them around 9:30am when the siblings were playing at their courtyard, leaving them severely injured, according to locals.
In Kishoreganj, a young farmer named Rabbi Mia died after being hit by a thunderbolt around 11:30am at Nandirhat village in Itna upazila, reported UNB.
A thunderbolt struck him while he was cutting grass out in the field, said officer-in-charge of Itna Police Station Md Morshed Zaman.
In Habiganj, Abdul Hamid, 60, son of Nimar Ali, was killed after being struck by lightning at Montail village in Lakhai upazila.