Storm leaves 30 dead, hundreds injured in parts of Bangladesh

A severe nor'wester has left at least 30 people dead, hundreds injured and a swathe of destruction in a number of Bangladesh districts on Saturday night.

North western Bogra district, some 197 km of capital Dhaka, accounted for the highest number of 17 deaths in the storm that struck last night.

"17 people were killed and 85 injured when the storm devastated parts of Bogra on Saturday night for half an hour," Md Shafiqur Rahman, the district's administration chief, told Xinhua Sunday.

He said most victims died when their houses collapsed, but some were electrocuted by wires from fallen poles.

Around 13 more deaths have been reported from other districts including Naogaon, Natore and Pabna.

Nor'wester reportedly wrecked havoc in the districts also on Saturday night.

Hundreds of people have reportedly been injured in the districts due to the Nor'wester which is known as a type of storm in Bangladesh and adjacent portions of India where it occasionally occurs in the spring.

TV reports showed the storm left a tail of destruction uprooting hundreds of trees and flattened many tin and mud-built houses in the districts and many other Bangladesh places and snapping road and rail communication with affected areas.

Bangladesh is affected by severe tornadoes and storms from March to mid-May ahead of the four-month-long wet monsoon season. Endi