April 11, 1964 Catastrophic Tornado 





A tornado moved to the west-southwest through Bhabanipur, Panchuria, Char Narayandia, Jhama, and Balabhadrapur, then southwest through Palasbaria, Kalagachia, to bil-Ichhamati. The tornado then moved south-southwest to Chandibarpur union and the village Jalalsi, and then southeast to Badhal, Paikmari, Phedi and Noapara. The total path length of the tornado was about 20 miles based on a rough plot of following affected villages:
 

Char Narayandia union - Dhulia, Jhama, Khalisa khaki, Barabhadrapur
Bhebanipur union - Char Rampur, Jaswantpur, Bhowanipur
Panchuria union - Madanbaria, Palasbaria
Naogram union - Brahmandanga, Kalagachi, Bhumurdia, Raigram
Chandibarpur union - Goalbathan, Sibanandaur, Chalitorola, Jangalgram, Bhuria, Noara, Bajesibanandapur, Bagasrirampur, Paikmari,
Bhumorida, Fedi
Naldi union - Baroipara, Jalalsi, Halda, Baikunthapur, Haldabari, Kanthapur, Gachbari, and Noapara 
Lakhipassa union - Eranda, Bairpara
 

According to the governor in a detailed account of the devastation, 3 unions comprising 7 villages in Mohammadpur police station under Magura subdivision had been totally wiped out, and there was no trace of any human habitation.

"It was difficult to keep a sense of direction in the absence of landmarks having been demolished. On arrival at village Gachbaria under the Naldi union which is 7 miles from Narail, it appeared that there was never any human habitation in this area although it accommodated about 100 families. Gachbaria village now gave a deserted look. Only 4 people survived to tell the story of devastation and their miseries."
 

Bodies were found in the bamboo groves and the areas lying close to the Madhumati river. The Pakistan Observer showed pictures of the devastation, including one showing a cooking utensil lodged in a tree.

Nothing has escaped unscathed, particularly in the villages Bhabanipur and Char Rampur. These villages now lie buried under debris and fallen trees.. Human bodies and corpses of cattle lie side by side. Only a few trees remain standing and those were torn and denuded.

"There is hardly any structure, kutcha or pucca left standing and the worst affected areas of Bhabanipur, Deuli, Char Rampur and Jhama have the silent bearing of a graveyard." The governor said that Magura and Narail had borne the brunt of the disaster. The damage was however more extensive in Magura where 3 unions had been completely devastated, with not a tree or house left standing. The unions are Char Narayandia, Bhebanipur and Panchuria under Mohammadpur thana.

"Most of the casualties were caused by flying debris."

"The route of the wind(tornado path) was like an arc resembling the formation of a horse's shoe."

Local newspapers said that at least 500 people were killed. Altogether 25 villages in the 2 subdivisions had been totally wiped out. The "cyclone" was so severe that corpses were found in tree tops.

Unofficially, as of 4-13, the death toll was estimated at 500. Official sources have already confirmed the loss of 250 lives.

As of 4-14, according to the governor, 84 bodies had been buried in Magura subdivision with
131 still missing. In Narail 44 bodies had been buried.
 

As of 4-16, unofficial estimate of damage was 12 Lakhs. No trace of 131 people in Bhabanipur who are officially described as missing. "It now remains only a formality to proclaim this population as dead", raising the death tool to 219 in Magura and 79 in Narail. This takes the "official" death toll to 298.
 

Nothing else was printed in the newspapers after this to update the death toll. So the final toll will never be known.