Storm kills 8 in Netrokona

At least eight people died in four Upazilas of Netrokona district in a storm that swept across the northern region from Sunday night to early Monday. The storm also led to derailment of an inter-city train on Bangabandhu Bridge over Jamuna River in between Tangail and Sirajganj districts. Netrokona Superintendant of Police (SP) Zakir Hossain said five people died at Bishampur union under Kalmakanda Upazila – four of them from the same family. Four of the deceased were identified as Afroza Begum, 26, also a pregnant woman, and her three sons – Rony, 2, Pervez, 9, and Rana, 5, — crushed to death under the roof of their hut which collapsed during the storm at Bishampur village under Koylati union. Another person, whom the locals identified as Noyan, died at the Bishampur village as a house collapsed on him. Besides, a young man - Mamun, 25, son of Alauddin of Noyanagar village of Kamalakanda - died during the storm. Apart from that, one death each was reported from Mohanganj, Barhatta and Sadar Upazlias, all buried under dwelling houses that collapsed on them. The violent storm that lasted for about an hour swept through at least 30-35 villages of Kamalakanda. It also damaged 100 houses and uprooted a good number of trees, leaving 25 people injured. The injured were admitted to Kalmakanda Upazila Health Complex. Some other shops and business establishments were also damaged at that time. Officer-in-charge of Kalmakanda Police Station Abdul Karim confirmed the incident, according to a news agency.