Lightning kills 25 in 13 districts

Lightning kills 25 in 13 districts

The incidents took place on Wednesday

At least 23 people were killed and 11 others injured in lightning strikes in Sunamganj, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Habiganj, Sirajganj, Nilphamari, Manikganj, Kishoreganj, Gaibandha, Narayanganj, Mymenshingh, Chandpur, and Cumilla districts on Wednesday.

In Sunamganj, two farmers were killed by lightning in Shalla and Dharmapasha upazilas in the morning.

Alamgir Hossain, 28, was working in a paddy field when a thunderbolt hit him, Shalla police station Officer-in-Charge Delwar Hossain said.

A thunderbolt struck farmer Uzzal when he was harvesting paddy in Dharmapasha upazila, reported UNB.

In Rajshahi, two farmers – Ansar Ali, 30, and Sohag Ali, 16 – were killed in lightning strikes.

Meanwhile, another person was killed in lightning strike in the district.

Tanor Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shawkat Ali confirmed the deaths.

Families of each deceased will be provided Tk20,000 and 30kg of rice as compensation, he said.

In Sylhet, police said 30-year-old Nurul Lucky was killed by lightning strike while going to his uncle’s house in Goainghat upazila around 2pm.

In Habiganj, six people were killed in lightning strikes in different upazilas.

Two people were killed in lightning strikes in Baniachang upazila, two in Nabiganj Haor, and one was killed in Madhabpur Haor, police said.

In Sirajganj, a thunderbolt hit 50-year-old Samtulla while he was working at a field amid rain around 11am, killing him on the spot.

In another incident, school student Shakil Mia, 15, was injured in a lightning strike while he was going school in Jamuna Shoal area.

Shakil was admitted to Kazipur Upazila Health Complex, Kazipur Upazila Chairman Mozammel Haque said.

In Nilphamari, Asma Bewa and Nur Amin were killed by lightning strike, Officer-in-Charge of Jaldhaka police station Mostafizur Rahman said.

In Manikganj, two people were killed and 10 others injured in lighting strikes.

Talukdarnagar High School head master Md Aminur Rahman said around 1:45pm, a thunderbolt hit the students when they were having snacks during a break, injuring 11 students.

Later, Saiful died on the way to hospital and the rest were admitted to the Upazila Health Complex.

Banchamora Union Parishad Chairman Abdul Latif said farmer Yakub Ali died on the spot as a thunderbolt hit him while working at a paddy field.

In Kishoreganj, a woman and a young man were killed in separate incidents of lightning strike in Nikli and Pakundia upazilas.

In Gaibandha, a 35-year-old labourer was killed in a lightning strike at Chhalua village. Udakhali Union Parishad Chairman Anwar Hossain confirmed the matter.

In Narayanganj, school student Kulfi Akhter died in a lightning strike, Sonargaon police station Officer-in-Charge Morshed Alam said.

In Cumilla, two teenagers named Selim, 17, and Imon, 15, died in lightning strike at Jatrapur village in the evening.

In Chandpur, 12-year-old Md Jamal Hossain was killed as a thunderbolt hit him in Kachua upazila in the afternoon. Mahbubur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Kachua police station, confirmed the matter.

In Mymenshingh, Alal Uddin, 60, was killed as a thunderbolt hit him at Char Nilkheya while going to field to bring his cattle around 2:30pm.

Our Habiganj Correspondent Md Noor Uddin and Manikganj Correspondent Motiur Rahman contributed to the report.

Source: Dhaka Tribune.