Hailstorm damages crops in Panchagarh, Nilphamari

A hailstorm coupled with rain lashed Panchagarh and Nilphamari districts on Friday, damaging different crops and fruits on vast tracts of land.

In Panchagarh, a violent hailstorm that swept a number of villages in Panchagarh Sadar upazila badly damaged mango and litchi buds and different crops.

Locals said the hailstorm that struck early in the morning and ended 9am also damaged hybrid tomatoes and watermelons on a vast track of land during its fury.

Kamarjani, Kunderpara, Prodhaner Bazar, Jhakurer Bhita, Goghat, Kharjani, Dariapur, Karaibari, Counciler Bazar and Nayagani were among the worst-affected 19 villages under Haribhasa, Hafizabad and Kamat Kajoldighi unions.

Nuruzzaman, a farmer at Haribhasa union, said he cultivated hybrid tomatoes and watermelons, but they were totally destroyed. "I've lost all of my capital," he added.

Azizar Rahman, a farmer at Chaklahat union, said most of buds of litchis and mangoes were damaged as the hailstorm lashed the union.

Local agriculture office has recorded 37 mm rain in Panchagarh Sadar upazila.

Officials at the Department of Agricultural Extension visited the affected areas to assess the extent of losses, said Shamsul Haque, deputy director of district DAE office.

The electricity supply also remained suspended in the district till 5pm following the hailstorm.

In Niphamari, a hailstorm, accompanied by rain, hit Domar, Dimla and Jaldhaka upazilas, leaving three people injured and disrupting power supply for several hours.

The worst-affected unions are Zorabari, Gomanti, Bamunia, Bhogdaburi, Ketkibari unions under Domar upazila while Mirganj, Shimulbnari and Golna unions in Jaldhaka upazila and Khalishachapani and Naotara unions in Dimla upazila.

According to UNB, the power supply was disrupted for several hours as tree branches fell on the electric lines on Sayedpur-Nilphamari road due to storm, said Abu Sayed, executive engineer of North West Power Distribution Company.