3 killed, teenager injured in lightning strikes in Pabna

PABNA, Apr 3: A least three people have been reported dead in separate lightning strikes in  Santhia Upazila of Pabna District. 

A teenager named Parvez, 15, was injured in the incident. Locals said that they died in separate incidents in Karamja, Nagdemra and Dhulauri unions of the upazila at around 5:30 pm on Thursday. The deceased are Akram, 44, Abu Said, 47, and A. Kuddus, 55.

Among them, Akram Hossain is the son of the late Raiz Uddin Pramanik of Punduria Village, Ward number 6 of Karamja Union; Abu Said is the son of Kuno Molla of Sonatala Village of Nagdemra Union and A. Kuddus is the son of A. Gani Molla of Barwani Village of Dhulauri Union.

In addition, the injured Parvez is the son of Raja of Sonatala Village. He has been treated at Santhia Upazila Health Complex.

Locals said that in the afternoon, Akram Hossain was going to cut cow grass in the Punduria crematorium area near his house when lightning struck. However, there was no rain at that time. 
Locals saw him falling from a distance and rescued him and took him to the Bera Upazila Health Complex, where the doctor on duty declared him dead. On the same afternoon, Abu Said was killed by lightning while picking onions in the Kushtia field of the neighbouring Sonatala Village. He died on the spot. Similarly, power tiller driver A. Quddus died on the spot when lightning struck the Basrowani field.

Karamja Ward No. 6 UP Member Md. Faruk Hossain confirmed the matter and said that Abu Said was killed on the spot when lightning suddenly struck him while picking onions in the field in the afternoon. He was a very simple and philanthropist.

Santhia Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Riju Tamanna told the journalists that the matter is really tragic. If the families of those who died in the lightning strike contact, financial assistance will be provided.