20 killed as storm lashes Bangladesh

A tropical storm killed at least 20 people and injured more than 250 as two days of high winds and heavy rain lashed the impoverished nation, officials said. Weather forecasters predicted further storms in the next few days and said the heavy rains could damage rice in the fields in parts of the country, which is tipped to produce a bumper crop this year.

The officials said the storm battered nine districts on Monday and Tuesday and most of people were killed by lightning or when their homes collapsed or were swept away. "A depression has been formed in the Bay of Bengal resulting in heavy rains and storm in the country. The phenomenon is likely to continue until May 14," Director of Meteorological Department Anwarul Kabir said.

Heavy rains on Tuesday flooded streets in Dhaka and swamped fields in most parts of Bangladesh. Five people were killed in southwestern Bagerhat, four in northern Rajshahi and two each in Dhaka, central Narsingdi and Barguna and Satkhira in the south. The rest were in northern Naogaon, southeastern Lakshmipur and central Madaripur.

The officials said the storm destroyed straw huts, uprooted trees, snapped power lines and damaged crops. Northern Rajshahi, Naogaon, Sirajganj, Satkhira, Patuakhali and Pirojpur districts were the worst affected by the storm.

In Dhaka a torrential downpour for more than five hours on Tuesday submerged roads, lanes and by-lanes and low-lying areas disrupting normal life. Water remained stagnant in different areas as drizzling continued.

City areas like Motijheel, Shantinagar, Kakrail, parts of Dhanmondi, Green Road, old Dhaka, Mymensingh Road near the prime minister's office were submerged. Traffic came to a halt as many cars, auto-rickshaws and other vehicles were stranded after water entered their exhaust pipes and engines. Office-goers and school going children were the worst sufferers.