Ashraful Islam Joy:

At least 50 houses and many trees have been damaged, when a storm (nor’wester) accompanied with moderate to heavy rains swept over different villages including Char Chilgachha, Chilgachha, Bahuka and Itali under Ratonkandi union in Sirajganj Sadar upazila on Tuesday noon.

Due to the hit of storm, houses and standing crops on vast areas have been damaged drastically. Besides, many trees including mango, litchi and jackfruit have also been uprooted. Electricity supply was disrupted in the storm hit areas as electric poles have been damaged and broken down. Vehicle movements were snapped due to fall of trees on some roads.

The houses of Thandu, Rafiqul, Abdul Mannan, Mohir Uddin, Hamid Sarker, Sakman Ali, Anwar Hossain, Rahmat Ali, Khuki Begum and Abdul Alim were badly damaged.

Rafiqul Islam Dhulu, Member of Ward no-8 in the Ratonkandi union told The Daily Sky that, “Many houses and trees have been damaged within two minutes during the storm. Crops on vast tract of lands, electric poles, trees and poultry farms have been damaged. Some of the affected people are now living under the open sky.

Jubayel Hossain, Administrative Officer in the Ratonkandi Union Parishad said, “Over fifty houses were damaged by the storm within two minutes making people homeless. Many furniture, clothes and valuable goods of different houses were also flown away. Now, they need financial and logistic supports.”

Dr. Meraj Hossain Mejbah, Administrator of Ratonkandi Union Parishad said, “We are preparing list of affected families. Assistance will be provided according to the list after a survey.”

Monowar Hossain, UNO of Sirajganj Sadar upazila said, “I have asked PIO (Project Implementation Officer) to visit the damaged areas. I have to visit the locality too.”