Season’s first nor’wester kills 3 in Dhaka

At least three persons died after this season’s first nor’wester lashed capital Dhaka this evening.

Locally known as Kalbaishakhi, the nor’wester stirred up around 6:00pm with gusts of wind and a heavy thundershower – felling trees and causing power outages.

A tea vendor of Paltan, Md Hanif, 50, died after a piece of brick fell on him from an under-construction building, said Bachchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Mili de-Costa, 62, a resident of Monipuripara, died after a tree fell on her on Lake Road around 6:00pm, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Jan-e-Alam Munshi said.

Dulal, 40, a pickup van driver, died after a wall collapsed on top of a tin-shed building in Shewrapara, OC of Mirpur Police Station, Dadon Fakir, told The Daily Star.

Reports of felled trees came in from Tejgaon Satrasta, Bakshibazar, New Market, Demra, Bailey Road, Gendaria, Mintoo Road, and Motijheel areas.

Traffic was disrupted in these areas, said Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters.

According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department, wind speed rose up to 74kmph during the nor’wester. The report on average rainfall could not be obtained.

Officials at Met office told The Daily Star that similar nor’westers are likely to sweep throughout the country in the next two to three days.

Broken trees also cut power lines in various parts of the city, Bangladesh Power Development Board’s (PDB) Public Relations Officer Saiful Hasan Chowdhury told The Daily Star.

Power outages were reported from Siddheswari, Malibag, Dhanmondi, Shantinagar and other areas of the capital. Repair work was being conducted when last reported.