Storms damage 1,000 houses in Bagerhat, Patuakhali

Hailstorms accompanied by hails and rain damaged over 1.000 tin-roofed structures, including dwelling houses, shops and mosques, in Kachua upazila of Bagerhat district and Dhulia launch terminal area in Baufal upazila of Patuakhali district early yesterday and Friday night.

Our Bagerhat correspondent reported that the storm swept through eight villages under Gazalia union of Kacha upazila early yesterday, damaging at least 1,000 houses, over 100 shops and a few mosques.

The affected villages are Sonakundo, Jhobair, Bisherkhola, Mothertala, Battala, Sahashipur and Gazalia.

The storm also damaged boro and maize plants on around 200 hectares of land at the affected villages. Mehedi Hasan, a shop owner at Gazalia Bazar said the storm accompanied by hails and rain hit the bazaar at around 3:00am and damaged over 100 tin-roofed shops.

Ilias Hossain of Bisherkhali village and Jamuna Rani of Gazalia village said the storm lashed the villages while the residents were asleep. Most tin-roofed houses were badly damaged by hails.

According to Gazalia Union Parishad Chairman Nasiruddin, the storm badly damaged three fourth of the tin-roofed houses at eight villages in his union and low-income people are the most sufferers.

The UP chairman urged the upazila administration to prepare a list of the affected people as soon as possible and provide financial assistance for their rehabilitation.

Kachua Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mahbubur Rahman visited the storm-hit villages yesterday. He assured the locals that the upazila administration would take all necessary steps to help the affected people.

In Patuakhali, at least 50 houses were damaged as a nor'wester lashed Dhulia launch terminal area under Baufal upazila on Friday night.

Of them, 10 were damaged totally while the rest partially, said locals.

Housewife Jahanara Begum of Natunbazar near the terminal said the storm hit the area at midnight, leaving at least 50 houses damaged.

A number of people in the area became homeless, she said.

Local UP Chairman Md Anisur Rahman Rob said they informed the higher authorities, seeking financial help for the victims.