A 65-year-old woman was killed after a tree fell on her house during a sudden tornado that swept through Nalitabari upazila of Sherpur on Saturday morning, causing widespread damage to houses and trees in several villages.

The deceased was identified as Begum Bibi of Nonni Paschimpara village. The incident occurred around 8:45 am.

According to local residents and administration sources, stormy weather accompanied by rain and thunder had been prevailing across different parts of Sherpur since Saturday morning. A powerful whirlwind suddenly struck Nalitabari and turned into a tornado, sweeping through several villages including Jogania, Nonni Paschimpara, Nonni Uttarbanda, Chaichakura and Hatipagar.

The tornado, which lasted for about one and a half minutes, damaged nearly 50 tin-shed and mud-built houses, blowing away roofs and uprooting numerous trees. Several electric poles were also damaged, snapping power lines and disrupting electricity supply in the affected areas.

During the storm, a large jackfruit tree from Begum Bibi’s homestead collapsed onto her house while she was cooking on the veranda, killing her on the spot.

Former chairman of Nonni union A.K.M. Mahbubur Rahman Riton said the intensity of the tornado was so severe that he feared his concrete house might be blown away. After the storm subsided, he found several houses damaged and many trees uprooted in the surrounding areas.

Nalitabari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdul Malek said officials are visiting the affected areas to assess the damage. However, the full extent of the losses could not be determined immediately.

``Government assistance for the affected families is being arranged,” he said.