DHAKA, 8 October 2004 — At least ten people were killed and hundreds suffered injuries when a series of tornadoes ripped through parts of Bangladesh yesterday, officials said. Five people died when a whirlwind bore down on a field where a large number of people had gathered to pray in central Bangladesh, police said. Eight of the injured were in serious condition, a police official said.
The tornado struck early afternoon in Tongi, in northern Dhaka district, while thousands of people were praying for the success of a major religious congregation (Biswa Ijtema) to take place in the area after Ramadan, the official said.
The storm lasted just a few minutes but destroyed several houses and uprooted trees. “I have never seen anything like it — there was an extremely strong wind with a roaring sound which made me feel that all houses will be ripped apart in a moment,” Shaila Akhter, a 34-year-old housewife in Tongi, told AFP.
In southwestern Faridpur and elsewhere, five people died and 40 people were injured when a tornado hit the area in the morning yesterday. There have also been reports of tornadoes in Lakshmipur, Bogra and Gopalgonj which have injured many and destroyed many houses.
Tornado lashed 11 villages in Sadar and Goalando sub-districts in Rajbari district yesterday, injuring at least 25 people and damaging about 1,000 houses.
Sources said the tornado that lasted for one minute lashed Riazuddin Para, Harizmiar Para, Sridham Datter Para, Janaki Ramer Para, Chhoto Baklar, Hawlikatli, Ambalpur and Uttar Charpaturia villages of Goalanada sub-district and Sultanpur, Khalisha and Paranpur villages of Sadar sub-district at about 9 a.m.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department officials said the tornadoes were caused by a depression in India’s Andhra Pradesh and Orissa states, which had also caused continuous rainfall in Bangladesh for the last five days.
Bangladesh is still reeling from floods in July and August that killed more than 700 and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. The country was also hit by heavy monsoon rains and flash floods last month.
