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in the village are now living under the open sky.

Nitesh Chandra Barman of Dholarhat village said he cultivated onion seed on one bigha, spending about Tk 2 lakh, but the hailstorm caused severe damage to the plants, leaving him with no way to recover the production cost or repay the loans and dues for fertilisers.

Md Alamgir Kabir, additional deputy director (crop) of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Thakurgaon, said crops on about 4,043 hectares, including maize on around 2,000 hectares and potato on 257 hectares, were damaged in the recent spell of nor’westers, hailstorms, and heavy rain.

A list of affected farmers is being prepared, and necessary steps will be taken following instructions from higher authorities, he added.

Ishrat Farzana, deputy commissioner of Thakurgaon, said a list of the affected households is being prepared, after which an allocation will be sought from the Directorate of Relief and Disaster Management.

“Once the allocation is received, assistance will be provided to the affected people,” she added.