A nor’wester lashed Matiranga and Guimara upazilas of Khagrachhari on Tuesday, snapping power supply to thousands of residents and severing road communication with Dhaka and Chattogram.

The storm which began around 11:30am uprooted numerous big trees, damaged homes, crops and infrastructure.

According to locals, a 4-kilometre stretch of the Khagrachhari–Chattogram road — from Muslim Para to Rasulpur and Bailyachhari Budung Para was blocked after large trees fell across the road.

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Road communication between Khagrachhari and the rest of the country, including Dhaka and Chattogram, remained completely suspended, leaving over 100 vehicles stranded on both sides, particularly in Rasulpur and Budung Para areas.

Power supply in Matiranga and Guimara upazilas was also disrupted after electric polls collapsed in Rasulpur area, plunging thousands of residents into darkness.

The outage caused severe difficulties for SSC examinees, many of whom were forced to sit for their exams by candlelight.

Aishe Barua, an examinee at Guimara centre, said the electricity went out about half an hour after the exam began. “We somehow completed the exam amid fear and darkness,” she said.

Another examinee, Ruby Akter, said they had to take the exam in a frightening environment due to the sound of storm, rain and thunder. “After coming out, we saw trees uprooted everywhere,” she added.

Locals said a cow was also killed after a tree fell on a house at Adarsha Gram area.

Matiranga Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mahmudur Rahman said the nor’wester caused extensive damage in the upazila, uprooting at least two power poles and felling large trees at different places.

“The administration is working to remove fallen trees from the roads. The extent of the damage will be known after detailed assessment,” he added.