STAR REPORT

Five people were killed and over 50 injured as a sudden nor’wester and lightning strikes swept across several districts on Thursday night, report our correspondents.

The region experienced strong winds, hailstorms, and lightning. Houses were damaged, trees uprooted, and electric poles knocked down, disrupting power supply in several areas.

In Shahapur village of Jashore, farmer Lutfar Rahman Sardar died after being struck by lightning while returning from the field.

Twenty people were injured in Jashore, while 16 electric poles were toppled, 50 trees uprooted and over 20 houses destroyed.

Keshabpur Upazila Agriculture Office said around 150 bighas of paddy fields were flattened, while mango and jackfruit orchards suffered significant losses.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdullah Al Mamun said assessments were underway to determine the extent of crop damage.

Mosharraf Hossain, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Jashore, however, said, “Some Boro paddy fields have leaned, but we do not expect major losses. About 18mm rainfall has been recorded, which is beneficial for paddy.”

Jashore Palli Bidyut Samity-2 general manager Hadiuzzaman said at least 16 power poles broken and numerous electric lines damaged by fallen trees in Manirampur and Keshabpur.

District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Sheikh Abdul Kader said local authorities had been instructed to assess losses.

In Jhenaidah’s Maheshpur, a He

SEE PAGE 9 COL 1