Six killed by lightning while fishing in Pabna wetland

Six people were killed and three others injured after lightning struck while they were fishing in a wetland in Pabna district on Friday afternoon.

The incident occurred at around 5pm at Sonapati Beel in Malanchi Union of Pabna Sadar upazila.

Tarikul Islam, officer-in-charge of Pabna Sadar Police Station, confirmed the deaths. He said he was heading to the scene and would be able to provide further details after arriving.

Kabir Hossain Babu, chairman of Malanchi Union Parishad, said several teenage boys had gone fishing in Sonapati Beel. When rain began at around 5pm, they took shelter in a makeshift structure made of polythene sheets. Lightning struck the shelter, killing six of them on the spot.

The chairman said three others injured in the strike were rescued and taken to hospital. The victims were teenagers and young men. Their identities were not immediately known.