Around hundreds of houses were damaged while a number of trees were uprooted during a nor’wester in Faridpur district early Thursday (March 28, 2024). Twenty villages under Pachuria and Bana unions in Alfadanga upazila of the district were battered by the storm. Residents of the 20 villages – Sirgram, Garania, Pakuria, Taboni, Tonapara, Sialdi Charpara, Joydebpur, Aushir haat, Kutharakandi, Majpara, Arpara in Bana union; Jugibarat, Bhatpara, Chandra, Pachuria, Deuli, Charnarandia, Dhuljuri and Charbhatpara in Pachuria union – remained in darkness as many electric wires were also snapped during the storm. A vast track of cropslands were also damaged while trees were uprooted, halting road communications in different parts of the upazila. Read more: Rains likely in parts of Dhaka, 7 other divisions AKM Zahidul Hasan Zahid, chairman of Alfadanga upazila, said the storm started sweeping through the upazila around 1 am. Many people have taken shelter under the open sky as their thatched houses were blown away during the storm. Additional General Manager of Alfadanga Sub-zonal officer of Palli Bidyut Samity, said some electric poles were uprooted while some wires got snapped, disrupting power connection. Work is going on to resume power supply, he said. Quamrul Ahsan Talukdar, deputy commissioner of Faridpur, said directives have been given to provide all-out support to those affected in the storm. Read more: Women's perspectives are vital in climate action: Environment Minister

The LGRD Ministry on Wednesday suspended the chairman and six members of Gopalpur Union Parishad in Faridpur’s Alfadanga upazila for relief embezzlement.