A sudden tornado lasting only a few seconds has devastated two villages in southwestern Bangladesh, killing at least one person and leaving dozens of families homeless, local authorities and residents said.
The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Hardi Union of Alamdanga upazila in Chuadanga district. Officials confirmed that a 70-year-old man, identified as Akman Ali, died after being crushed by a collapsing wall during the storm. The full extent of casualties is still being assessed.
Local sources reported that at least 20 homes were either destroyed or severely damaged as powerful winds tore through Hardi and Udaypur villages. Electricity poles were knocked down and numerous trees uprooted, leading to power outages across several nearby areas.
Emergency responders from the Fire Service and Civil Defence arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and began rescue and clearance operations.
Residents recount moments of terror
Eyewitnesses described the storm as sudden and violent, striking with little warning.
Amena Begum, a 60-year-old resident of Udaypur village, said she had not witnessed such a storm in decades. “I saw something like this once about 30 to 35 years ago. On Wednesday night, after finishing the Taraweeh prayers, strong winds suddenly began. Within moments, the tin roof of our house was blown away,” she said while speaking to local reporters at the site on Thursday morning.
Another resident, college student Sabia Khatun, broke down in tears while describing the damage. “Almost everything has been destroyed by the storm. A tree fell on our cowshed and trapped our cow underneath. With the help of neighbors, we were able to rescue it,” she said, highlighting both the scale of destruction and the community response.
Widespread damage and displacement
A visit to the affected villages revealed scenes of devastation. Families were seen salvaging pieces of corrugated metal and rebuilding damaged structures. Many residents have been left without shelter, with at least 50 families affected in Udaypur village alone.
The situation worsened as seasonal Kalboishakhi storms and rainfall followed shortly after the tornado, compounding the hardship for those already displaced. Despite the additional storm activity, no new casualties were immediately reported.
Rescue and relief operations underway
Abdullah Al-Mamun, officer-in-charge of the Alamdanga Fire Service and Civil Defence, said teams began operations immediately after receiving reports of the disaster.
“We reached the site promptly and started rescue efforts. Work is ongoing to remove fallen trees and damaged electric poles from the roads. The full extent of the damage will be assessed later,” he said, speaking to local media at the scene late Wednesday night.
Local administration officials said assistance would be provided to affected families.
Panna Akter, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Alamdanga, said government agencies were actively engaged in response efforts. “Fire service and electricity department personnel are working on-site. Financial assistance will be provided to those affected,” she told reporters during a visit to the affected area on Thursday.
Seasonal vulnerability and climate context
Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to severe weather events, particularly during the pre-monsoon season when Kalboishakhi storms—often accompanied by strong winds and occasional tornadoes—are common. These storms can form rapidly and cause localized but intense damage, especially in rural areas where housing structures are often less resilient.
Meteorological experts note that while tornadoes in Bangladesh are typically short-lived, they can be extremely destructive due to high wind speeds and low levels of preparedness in affected communities.
Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed damage assessment in the coming days, while relief efforts continue for displaced families struggling to recover from the sudden disaster.
