3 farmers killed, 7 injured in lightning strikes in Jhenaidah

Three people have been killed and at least seven injured in separate lightning strikes in Jhenaidah and Naogaon.

The incidents occurred from morning to afternoon on Saturday, March 28, in Shihara union of Patnitala upazila, Naogaon, and in Kharibaria and Lakshmipur villages of Shailkupa upazila, Jhenaidah.

The deceased are Ashraf Ali, son of late Aynal Haque of Shital village in Naogaon; Samir Biswas, 40, son of Sushil Biswas of Kharibaria village in Shailkupa; and Apu Biswas, 22, son of Prakash Biswas of Lakshmipur village in Shailkupa. All three were farmers.

According to local sources and police, the sky had been overcast in Naogaon since last night, with gusty winds accompanying rain. Five farmers, including Ashraf Ali, were working in the Tepukuria field in Shihara union when a sudden lightning strike injured them. Locals rushed them to Sapahar Upazila Health Complex, but Ashraf Ali died on the way. The other four injured are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Patnitala Police Station OC Mohammad Asaduzzaman said Ashraf Ali died after being struck by lightning while harvesting wheat. The body was handed over to family members after legal procedures.

In Shailkupa upazila, Jhenaidah, Samir Biswas and Apu Biswas were killed by lightning while working in fields. Witnesses said they were seriously injured by a sudden lightning strike while engaged in agricultural work. They were taken to the upazila health complex, where doctors declared them dead.

Dr Ehetam Shahid, a physician at Shailkupa Upazila Health Complex, said the injured were brought to the hospital in critical condition, and Samir and Apu died while undergoing treatment. Shailkupa Police Station said an unnatural death case has been registered.