Lightning strikes killed at least 14 people and injured several others in seven districts on Sunday, with incidents reported between noon and 5pm amid rain.
Gaibandha
At least five people were killed in lightning strikes in Sundarganj, Saghata and Phulchari upazilas. The incidents took place around 4:30pm in Dakshin Dhopadanga village in Dhopadanga Union, Deluar Char in Phulchari, and Helencha village in Bonarpara Union of Saghata.
The deceased have been identified as Fuad Hasan, 35; Rafi Chowdhury, 8; Mizanur Rahman, 18; Mohammad Nabbar Ali, 65; and Manik Mia, 45. Fuad was the son of Jahangir Alam Chowdhury of South Dhopadanga village in Sundarganj, while Rafi was the son of Choton Chowdhury and Mizanur Rahman was the son of Nabi Hossain.
Rafi and Mizanur were uncle and nephew. Shamim, 17, son of Abdul Hai of the same village, was injured and admitted to Sundarganj Upazila Health Complex. Ali Akbar, 70, was seriously injured in another lightning strike while taking cattle to graze in Bulbulir Char area of Fazlupur Union in Phulchari upazila. He was taken to Gaibandha Sadar Hospital.
Mokleshur Rahman Mondol, chairman of Dhopadanga Union Parishad, said: “In the lightning incident, one person died first and after the three injured were taken to the hospital. Later, two more people died.”
In another incident in Saghata upazila, Nabbar Ali died while going to bring a goat in Helencha village. Manik Mia died on the spot in Deluar Char while returning home with maize on a horse cart during rain.
Sirajganj:
At least two people died in lightning strikes in Tarash and Raiganj upazilas.
Abdul Hamid, 50, a farmer from Betra Shin village in Madhainagar Union of Tarash upazila, died around 3:30pm while working in a field beside his house.
Md Shafiqul Islam, a local union parishad member, said: “Abdul Hamid was working in the field beside his house during the rain in the afternoon. He died on the spot after being struck by lightning.”
Hasan Sheikh, 25, died around 5pm in Mallikchan area of Dhangora Union in Raiganj upazila. He was the son of Abdul Halim Sheikh of the area. He was gathering harvested paddy when he was struck by lightning.
Md Aminul Islam, panel chairman of Dhangora Union Parishad, said: “Hasan Sheikh died in a lightning strike. A shadow of grief has fallen over the area after the incident.”
Thakurgaon:
At least two people died in separate lightning strikes in Pirganj upazila. The incidents took place in Niamatpur and Koshadangipara villages in the afternoon.
The dead were Laboni Akter, 35, wife of Rashidul Islam of Niamatpur village, and Ilias Ali, 37, son of Akbar Ali of Koshadangipara village. Laboni was returning home after cutting grass for cattle around 2pm when she was struck by lightning.
Ilias died on the spot after being struck by lightning while inspecting crops in his field in Bairampur area.
Pirganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Mazharul Islam said: “Two people have died in lightning strikes. A case of unnatural death has been filed at the police station over the incident.”
Jamalpur:
Another two people died in separate lightning strikes, while four others were injured.
Five cattle also died in the incidents.
One person died in Char Jatharthapur area of Sadar upazila and another in Hazarabari area of Melandah upazila.
The dead were Marzina Begum, 22, wife of Mohammad Rajib of Hazarabari area in Melandah upazila, and Hasmat Ali, 45, son of Habib Mondol of Char Jatharthapur area in Sadar upazila. The injured were Shefali Begum, 25, wife of Harun Mia of Hazarabari area in Melandah, Anwar Hossain, 34, son of Nur Ali of Char Jatharthapur area, Md Shaon Mia, 25, son of Mohammad Ruman Mia of the same area, and Sukhi, 14, daughter of Suman Mia of Naovanga area in Sadar upazila.
They were admitted to Jamalpur General Hospital. Local sources said rain and lightning suddenly began in the afternoon.
Marzina Begum was working in a kitchen in the courtyard of her house in Hazarabari when she was struck by lightning and died on the spot.
Hasmat Ali was working in a crop field in Char Jatharthapur when the rain and lightning began. He, Anwar Hossain and Md Shaon Mia were seriously injured. Locals rescued them and took them to Jamalpur General Hospital. Hasmat later died while undergoing treatment.
Bogra:
Suman Mia, 26, died after being struck by lightning while covering paddy saplings with polythene during rain in Gabtali. The incident took place in Muchikhali village of Sonaray Union around noon.
Raja Mondol, panel chairman of Sonaray Union, confirmed the matter. Suman was the son of Abdul Karim of Muchikhali village in Sonaray Union.
Ranju Mia, his brother and a member of Ward 4 of Sonaray Union, said Suman was taken to Bogra TMSS Medical College and Rafatullah Community Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Panchagarh:
Md Sohrawardi, 22, a tea worker, died in a lightning strike in Atwari upazila.
The incident took place around 8am beside a tea garden in Sonapatila area of Dhamor Union. 2 other tea workers, Md Mostofa, 45, and Jaherul Islam, 43, were injured.
Sohrawardi was the son of Abdus Samad of Sonapatila area in Dhamor Union. He had married just eight days earlier.
Mostofa and Jaherul Islam are residents of the same area, and Mostofa was admitted to Panchagarh Modern Sadar Hospital.
Khorshed Alam Kuddus, a member of Ward 1 of Dhamor Union Parishad, said: “In the morning, the 3 workers were returning home after picking tea leaves from the tea garden of a farmer named Sher Ali in Sonapatila area. It was raining. Sohrawardi died on the spot after being struck by lightning. The other 2 workers, who were standing a little away, were injured.”
Atwari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Matiar Rahman said: “A case of unnatural death has been filed at the police station over the incident.”
Natore:
Samrat Hossain, 26, a paddy harvesting worker, died in a lightning strike in Singra. The incident took place around 5pm in Thenga Pakuria village of Dahiya Union.
Samrat was the son of Saja Fakir of Nagardala village in Shahjadpur upazila of Sirajganj. He and several others were carrying harvested paddy to Auwal’s house when stormy weather began.
Samrat put the load down and took shelter in a nearby house. He was seriously injured when lightning struck suddenly. Other workers rescued him and took him to Sadar Hospital, where the doctor on duty declared him dead.