At least 18 students fell ill after lightning struck near Singua Bahumukhi High School in Kapasia upazila of Gazipur on Monday afternoon.
The affected students were taken to Monohardi Upazila Health Complex in neighbouring Narsingdi for treatment. The incident occurred around noon while classes were underway at the school.
Local residents said heavy rain began in the afternoon, followed by several lightning strikes. Hearing students crying from the school’s ground floor, residents rushed to the building and found several students lying on the floor and benches in an almost unconscious state.
Headteacher Mostafizur Rahman said several consecutive lightning strikes occurred around 2:00pm, leaving at least 18 female students on the ground floor sick.
Teachers and local residents took the affected students to Monohardi Upazila Health Complex. Six were admitted for treatment, while the others were sent home after receiving first aid.
A Matin, a senior staff nurse at the health complex, said six students had been admitted and were receiving treatment. The others were discharged after receiving primary treatment.
