5 die in lightning strike in Rangamati, Cox’s Bazar

Five people have died in separate lightning strikes in the two districts on Thursday (May 2).  Three of them died in three upazilas of Rangamati and two in Pekua upazila of Cox's Bazar.

According to police and local sources, thunderstorms along with gusty wind and torrential rain started around 9:00am in the morning in Rangamati Sadar and its surrounding areas.

At that time, a person named Md Nazir Hossain (50) died being struck by lightning at Sylhety neighbourhood in Tabalchhari area in the town. At the same time, Baharjan (60), a resident of Muslim block area of Rupkari union at Baghaichhari upazila, also died due to sudden lightning.

Apart from this, a woman named Tonybala Tripura (37) also died due to lightning at the same time in the Longtian neighbourhood at Sajek valley in the district.

On the other hand, two salt workers died at the Magnama and Rajabali unions of Pekua upazila in Cox's Bazar being struck by lightning.

Locals said heavy lightning started in Pekua upazila around 4:00am. At this time, Didarul Islam went out to collect salt from the field in the Kudailyadia area of Magnama union in the upazila. At the same time, Arfatur Rahman was also working in a salt field in the Charipara area of Rajakhali union of the upazila.

Both of them died on the salt fields after being struck by lightning, they said.

Pekua Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Mujibur Rahman said, "Those two salt workers died before being brought to the hospital.”