STAR REPORT

At least four people were injured and over 1,500 houses, mostly tin-sheds, were damaged by sudden storms in three northern districts yesterday.

Many trees were uprooted and vast tracts of Aman paddy fields were damaged, according to local administration officials and representatives of local government bodies.

In Rangpur’s Gangachara upazila, the storm swept through 46 villages around 6:00am. Mafi Hossain, 9, was injured when a partially brick-built house collapsed in Hajirhat village. He was admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital, said his father, Nazmul Amin.

Ashraf Ali, chairman of Nohali Union Parishad, said residents in shoal areas were the worst affected.

Gangachara UNO Mahmud Hasan Mridha said around 1,200 houses were damaged in the storm. The administration is preparing a list of affected families for relief distribution.

In Thakurgaon, around 250 to 300 houses were damaged and many trees uprooted in several villages under Baliadangi upazila as a storm, accompanied by rain, struck around 5:00am.

“The local administration is assessing the extent of the damage and preparing a list of affected families to provide assistance,” said UNO Md Mofijur Rahman.

In Lalmonirhat, a sudden storm hit Votmari union under Kaliganj upazila around noon, damaging more than 100 houses, said local union parishad chairman Farhad Hossain.

At least three people were injured, he said.

Kaliganj UNO Jakiya Sultana said the administration is preparing a list of affected families to distribute relief materials.

[Our correspondents from Lalmonirhat and Thakurgaon contributed to this report.]