9 killed as Fani lashes southwestern districts

At least nine people, including two children, were killed across Bangladesh as cyclone Fani approached and hit the country, reports UNB.

The deaths were reported from Barguna, Noakhali, Bhola, Bagerhat, Patuakhali, Lakshmipur and Chapainawabganj districts.

In Barguna, a woman and her grandchild were killed when their house was torn apart by stormy wind in Charduani village of Patharghata upazila around 2:30am on Saturday.

The deceased are Nurjahan, 60, and Jahidur, 8, said Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Jakir Hossain.

In Noakhali, a two-year-old boy, Ismail, son of Abdur Rahman, was killed in a tree collapse at Char Aminul Haque village in Subarnachar upazila around 10:30pm, Iqbal Hasan, a project implementation officer (PIO).

Around 50 people were injured and hundreds of houses damaged at Char Wapda and Char Jabbar unions during the storm.

The injured were taken to Subarnachar Upazila Health Complex.

Meanwhile, Najmun Nahar, 12, from Kankra union, was killed after tree branch fell on her during the storm around 9am, said Companiganj UNO Faysal Ahmed.

In Bhola, housewife Rani Begum was killed after their house collapsed during the storm at Poralia village in Sadar upazila at night.

The storm also damaged several hundred houses and uprooted trees and electric poles.

In Chandpur, at least 50 houses at Shilar Char, Khaskandi, Majher Char, Monder Bazar areas and eight shops at Monder Bazar in Sadar upazila were damaged in the storm, said UNO Kaniz Fatema.

At least five people were also injured.

Meanwhile, around 40 houses were damaged in storm in char areas around 3:45am, said Haimchar UNO Ferdousi Begum.

In Bagerhat, Shaninur Begum, 35, wife of Mozahar, was killed after a tree collapsed on her in Sadar upazila at night, said Jahirul, the district's additional deputy commissioner.

Nasir Ahmed, a PIO at Sharankhola, said cracks have developed at three points of Baleshwar River embankment in the upazila.

Besides, 150-metre stretch of an embankment from Bogi to Gabtola was damaged, flooding several villages.

In Lakshmipur, Anwara Khatun, 65, was killed after a house collapsed on her at Char Neyamatpur in Ramgati upazila around 5am, said UNO Rafiqul Haque.

Besides, 15 people were injured and around 50 houses and a school were damaged in the storm.

In Patuakhali, Abid Musulli, 35, son of Harun Musulli, was killed as a tree collapsed on him at Manoshitola village in Kolapara upazila in the morning, said Kuakata Municipality Mayor Abdul Barek.

In Chapainawabganj, a toddler drowned in the flooded village of Kalupur in Gomostapur upazila around 11 am.

The deceased is Morsalin, 3, son of Saiful Islam.