Fatal lightning strikes claim 14 nationwide
Fourteen people have been killed in lightning strikes across seven districts of the country on Sunday.
The fatalities were reported from Gaibandha (five), Sirajganj (two), Jamalpur (two), Thakurgaon (two), Bogura (one), Natore (one) and Panchagarh (one).
Meanwhile, in a separate incident at Dhaka University’s Aparajeyo Bangla area, two female students were injured in a lightning strike around 5pm on Sunday.
The injured, Sufia Akter (22) and Farah Akter (22), both students of East West University, were admitted to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
In Gaibandha, several separate incidents were reported in Sundarganj, Saghata and Fulchhari upazilas.
In Sundarganj alone, three people died in a single lightning strike in South Dhopandanga village of Dhopandanga Union, while one person was injured and a cow also died.
The deceased were Fuad (14), son of former UP Chairman Jahangir Alam Suja Chowdhury; Rafi (12), son of Al Mojahid Chowdhury Chhoto Mia and a Class V student; and Mizanur (20), son of Nabin Hossain.
The injured, Shamim (18), son of Abdul Hai Mia, is undergoing treatment.
Sundarganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shaheen Mohammad
Amanullah, citing local residents, confirmed the deaths and added that livestock losses were also reported in the incident.
In Fulchhari upazila, Manik Hossain (22) died along with a horse while operating a horse-drawn cart during a lightning strike in Jamirah Char. In Saghata upazila, an elderly man, Nambar Ali (65), was also killed in a separate strike.
In Sirajganj, two people died in lightning incidents in Tarash and Raiganj upazilas.
Farmer Abdul Hamid (50) was struck while working in a field in Tarash around 4:30pm. In Raiganj, Hasan Sheikh (25) died around 5pm while collecting harvested paddy.
In Jamalpur, two people, including a housewife, were killed in separate incidents. Hasmat Ali Hasu (55) died after being struck while grazing cattle in Sadar upazila and later pronounced dead at hospital.
In Melandah, Morjina Akter (22) died on the way to hospital after being struck while cooking in her courtyard. Another person, Shefali Begum, was injured and is being treated at Jamalpur General Hospital.
In Bogura’s Gabtali upazila, Sumon (35) died after being struck while going to bring a goat from the field.
In Thakurgaon, two deaths were reported in Pirganj upazila. The deceased were Laboni Akter (35), a housewife, and Ilias Ali (37). Pirganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Mazharul Islam confirmed the fatalities.
In Natore, worker Samrat Hossain (26) died in Singra upazila while harvesting paddy in Chalan Beel. He was struck during sudden rain and later declared dead at Natore Sadar Hospital.
In Panchagarh’s Atowari upazila, tea worker Sarwarddi (21) died in a lightning strike, while two others – Mostafa (45) and Zahirul Islam (43) – were injured and are receiving treatment at Panchagarh Modern Sadar Hospital.
Their colleague Aglina said they were struck during a storm and heavy rain while on campus and were subsequently rescued and taken to hospital.
