Lightning strikes kill 11 in 5 districts

A total of 11 people have died in lightning strikes in five districts of the country in a single day.

The incidents occurred in in Sunamganj, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Habiganj and Netrokona districts on Saturday.

According to information sent by district correspondents, a total of 11 people died in separate lightning strikes on Saturday, including one in Netrokona, two in Mymensingh, two in Rangpur, one in Habiganj and five in Sunamganj.

A farmer named Altu Mia, 65, died in a lightning strike while cutting grass for cows in a haor in Atpara upazila of Netrokona.

The incident occurred around 1 pm in a haor in front of Hatia village in Sukhari union of the upazila. Altu Mia is the son of deceased Lal Mia of Hatia village.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Atpara police station Md. Zubaidul Alam confirmed the incident.

On the other hand, a farmer named Rahmat Ali (Ujjwal) died after being struck by lightning while harvesting paddy in Gouripur of Mymensingh.

The incident occurred at noon while he was harvesting paddy in Bairaura village of Gouripur union of the upazila.

Two people died and at least 12 were injured after being struck by lightning while fishing at a fish farm in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur.

The incident occurred at noon in Sakhipur village of Boro Hazratpur union of the upazila.

The deceased are - Milan Mia, 35, and Abu Taleb, 65.

Locals said that they had gone to fish with a net in the farm pond. When lightning suddenly struck, the fishermen and visitors on the bank were burnt and injured.

The condition of the three injured was critical and they were sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

Five farmers were killed in lightning strikes in Tahirpur, Jamalganj, Dharmapasha and Dirai upazilas of Sunamganj.

The deceased are Habibur Rahman, 30, and Rahmat Ullah, 15, of Dharmapasha, Nazmul Hossain, 26, of Jamalganj, Abul Kalam, 25, of Tahirpur and Liton Mia, 30, of Dirai.

According to police and local sources, all these deaths occurred while harvesting paddy in haors when a sudden rainstorm started in the afternoon.

The bodies have been handed over to the families after completing legal procedures in each upazila.

On the other hand, a farmer named Sunam Uddin, 60, died in a lightning strike while harvesting paddy in haors in Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj.

The accident occurred at 12 noon on Saturday in Momina Haor on the banks of the Bibiana River in Boro Bhakoir (East) Union of the upazila. The deceased Sunam Uddin is the son of the deceased Sundar Ali of Rampur village of the union.

In this regard, Nabiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Monayem Mia said that a farmer died in a lightning strike. Police have inspected the scene.