Violent hailstorms with lightning have caused widespread damage to boro paddy in several upazilas of Kishoreganj. The storms, which came in two spells on the afternoon and night of Tuesday, 24 March, damaged boro paddy on about 4,000 hectares of land in the district. The haor areas were the worst affected.

Hail fell in parts of the haor upazilas of Itna, Mithamain, Austagram and Nikli, as well as Sadar, Pakundia, Hossainpur, Katiadi and Bhairab. In many places so much hail fell that fields and roads turned white.

According to the district agriculture department, Mithamain upazila suffered the most, with boro paddy on about 2,500 hectares damaged. Paddy was also damaged on 986 hectares in Itna, 140 hectares in Austagram, 100 hectares in Nikli, 120 hectares in Pakundia, 10 hectares in Hossainpur, 6 hectares in Kuliarchar and 2 hectares in Bhairab.

Damage to vegetable fields was also seen in various parts of Pakundia.

Dr Sadikur Rahman, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Kishoreganj, said boro paddy suffered most from the hail, with the damage heaviest in the haor areas. Affected farmers are being advised on what to do, and he himself is going to inspect the damaged haor areas.

Altaf Hossain, balloon maker at the Nikli weather office, said 19.3mm of rain was recorded in Nikli during the night, along with hail.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.