In Madarganj Upazila of Jamalpur district, residents across at least fifteen villages have been experiencing severe hardship for four consecutive days following a powerful Kalbaishakhi storm that disrupted the local electricity distribution network. The storm, which struck late on Saturday night, caused widespread damage to the electricity infrastructure, including uprooted poles and snapped transmission lines, resulting in a complete suspension of power supply across several rural areas.
Despite ongoing repair efforts, electricity has not yet been fully restored in the affected regions, leaving an estimated thirty thousand people without power. The prolonged outage has significantly disrupted daily life, particularly affecting students, households, and small businesses.
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Educational disruption and household difficulties
Students preparing for ongoing Secondary School Certificate examinations have been among the most affected. With no electricity available after sunset, study routines have been severely interrupted. Many students have been forced to rely on dim lighting sources such as candles or rechargeable lamps, which are often insufficient for extended revision.
Households are also facing difficulties in managing basic domestic tasks. The inability to charge mobile phones has disrupted communication, while the lack of refrigeration has led to the spoilage of stored food items, causing additional financial strain on families. In several areas, residents have reported interruptions to water supply and reduced functionality of local shops due to the absence of electricity.
Areas affected by the outage
The impact of the storm has been reported across multiple unions within the upazila. The most severely affected villages are listed below:
| Union | Affected villages |
|---|---|
| Koraichara | Salabanda, Choto Bhangbari, Mohishbathaan, East Mohishbathaan, Lal Doba, East Nolchhia, Ilshamari, Char Gujamanika, Bagoler Gor |
| Char Pakerdah | Dikkapara |
| Balijuri | East Tartapara |
| Jorakhali | Khilkati West Para |
| Gunaritala | North Jorakhali, Gunaritala East Para |
Communication and economic impact
Residents have also reported disruptions in mobile network connectivity and internet services in several locations, further complicating communication and business activities. Small traders have noted difficulties in maintaining regular operations, while transport and coordination within the affected areas have also been affected.
Local resident Aminul Islam from Lal Doba stated that families have been struggling significantly due to the prolonged power outage, with students facing the greatest academic setback. He added that essential communication has been hindered and perishable food items have been lost due to lack of refrigeration.
Similarly, Jihad Ahmed from East Tartapara highlighted that the combined disruption of electricity, internet, and mobile connectivity has created widespread inconvenience in both personal and commercial activities.
Restoration efforts
Officials from the Madarganj Zonal Office of the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board stated that the storm caused extensive damage, including fallen trees on power lines and broken electric poles across multiple locations. Repair work is ongoing; however, progress has been slowed by workforce limitations and adverse weather conditions in some areas.
Despite these challenges, field teams are reportedly working continuously to restore electricity as quickly as possible. Authorities have assured that efforts are being prioritised to reconnect the most affected villages first.
For now, residents across Madarganj continue to await the restoration of power, hoping for a swift return to normal daily life after several days of disruption.