Sudden Nor’wester and Hailstorm Devastate Lalmonirhat; Thousands of Bighas of Crops Destroyed

The storm, which struck with sudden intensity, has left at least five people injured and damaged thousands of hectares of standing crops, including maize and tobacco.

Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner (DC) HM Rakib Haider confirmed that the storm severely affected Aditmari, Kaliganj, Hatibandha, and Patgram upazilas. Of the five injured, two have been admitted to local hospitals with serious injuries after being struck by large hailstones or falling structures. Hundreds of tin-shed houses were reportedly blown away or crushed by uprooted trees, forcing many families to spend the night under the open sky.

The agricultural impact is particularly severe in the Mahishkhocha union of Aditmari, where thousands of bighas of maize, tobacco, and seasonal vegetables were leveled to the ground. Local farmers expressed despair, noting that the crop was nearly ready for harvest before the "ten-minute" onslaught destroyed their livelihoods. In addition to crop loss, the storm uprooted numerous electric poles, snapping power connections across several unions.

Project Implementation Officers (PIOs) and local representatives have begun field inspections to assess the total financial loss. The District Administration has assured that a list of affected families is being prepared to provide urgent humanitarian assistance and government aid for rebuilding homes and recovering agricultural losses.