At least five were killed in separate lightning strikes while harvesting paddy in different haor areas of Sunamganj district on Saturday afternoon.
The deceased were identified as Abul Kalam, 25, of Tahirpur upazila, Nazmul Hossain, 26, of Jamalganj, Habibur Rahman, 24 and Rahmat Ullah, 13 of Dharmapasha, and Liton Mia, 38 of Dirai upazila.
According to locals, the farmers were cutting paddy in the haors when sudden gusty winds and rainfall began, accompanied by lightning.
In Tahirpur, Abul Kalam was critically injured by a lightning strike in Matian haor and was later declared dead after being taken to the upazila health complex, said Tahirpur Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Aminul Islam.
In a similar incident in Pagnar haor of Jamalganj, Nazmul Hossain of Chanpur village was killed by lightning while working in the field. Another individual was also injured in the incident, said Jamalganj Police Station OC Bande Ali.
In Dharmapasha, two separate lightning strikes claimed the lives of Habibur Rahman, a degree second-year student of Badshaganj Degree College and a resident of Boraihat village under Paikurati union, and Rahmat Ullah of Saraswatipur village under Joyshree union.
Dharmapasha Police Station OC Mohammad Shahid Ullah said the bodies were handed over to the families after completing legal formalities.
In Dirai, farmer Liton Mia was struck by lightning in Kaliagota (Atarar) haor and was pronounced dead after being taken to the upazila health complex, confirmed Resident Medical Officer Dr Prashanta Das Talukdar.
AK/AM
