6 killed in tropical storm, thundershowers predicted for today, tomorrow

Six people were killed after a nor'wester coupled with hailstorm and rain swept the country including capital Dhaka on Sunday evening.

The tropical storm, the first of the season, hit the capital around 6:22pm and lasted more than one minute, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

It recorded a wind speed of 74 km per hour and 17 mm of rain during the storm, said meteorologist Bazlur Rashid.

The sudden rain caused a widespread traffic chaos in the capital city, inflicting sufferings on those returning home from their offices.

The met office predicted rain or thundershowers for today and tomorrow.

The latest met office bulletin said rain/thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty/squally wind is likely to occur at many places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, and at a few places over Khulna, Barishal and Rajshahi divisions with hails at isolated places.

Of the victims, three died in the capital.

The victims are Md Hanif, 50, a tea vendor at Paltan intersection, and Mili de-Costa, 62, a resident of Monipuripara.

The women died after a tree fell on her at Lake Road around 6:30pm, said Jan-e-Alam Munshi, officer-in-charge of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station.

The tea vendor died after several pieces of brick fell on him from a nearby multi-storey building, said sub-inspector Md Sujon of Paltan police station.

A 45-year-old tea-stall owner named Md Hanif was killed when a brick from an under construction building fell on his head in Purana Paltan area.

Besides, two sisters were killed in Moulvibazar and one man in Habiganj district.

Source: Prothom Alo