4 killed, 40 villages damaged as storm hits Joypurhat

At least four people, including two siblings, were killed and 40 villages were extensively damaged as a storm swept over Joypurhat on Tuesday midnight.

Khetlal Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Arafat Rahman has confirmed the death of Shilpi Khatun, 26, and his two sons Newaz, 7, and Niyamul, 3, in a wall collapse during the storm. Besides, Maryam Begum, 70, of Kalai upazila also died in wall collapse.

"At least 40 villages were extensively damaged by the storm in three upazilas of Joypurhat, which caused a loss of at least Tk10 crore. A chicken shed broke during the storm where 40,000 chickens worth about Tk1crore died in Khetlal upazila," he said further.

"Ma Rezia Agro Limited has completely damaged. The mill authorities have claimed that the amount of their loss is Tk20 crore," he added.

Joypurhat Deputy Commissioner Zakir Hossain said, "The storm hit the district around 10:30pm. It damaged hundreds of houses and uprooted many trees in four upazilas. Many villages have been left without electricity as electric poles were pulled out by the storm."