At least 12 people were killed and several others injured in separate lightning strikes in six districts of Bangladesh on Saturday, as seasonal storms swept across parts of the country.
The fatalities were reported from Sunamganj, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Habiganj, Netrokona and Kishoreganj, where farmers and villagers were caught in sudden thunderstorms accompanied by rain and gusty winds.
Our Correspondent from Sunamganj reports that the highest number of casualties occurred in Sunamganj, where five people died in separate lightning strikes in the haor areas of Dirai, Tahirpur, Dharampasha and Jamalganj upazilas during a sudden Kalbaishakhi (nor'wester) storm.
The deceased were identified as: Abul Kalam of Gazipur village in Tahirpur, Rahmat Ullah of Islampur village in Dharampasha, Habibur Rahman of Paikurati village in Dharampasha, Liton Mia of Perua village in Dirai, and Nuruzzaman of Chanpur village in Jamalganj.
Our Correspondent from Rangpur reports that in Mithapukur of Rangpur, two farmers were killed after lightning struck a tin-roofed shelter where they had taken shelter during deteriorating weather in the afternoon. The victims were identified as Taleb Uddin and Milon, both residents of Sakhipur village.
Our Correspondent from Habiganj reports that in Nabiganj of Habiganj district, a farmer died after being struck by lightning while harvesting paddy in a haor near the Bibiyana River. The deceased, Sunam Uddin, was a resident of Rampur village under Bara Bhakair East union.
Two men have died in separate lightning strikes across Mymensingh's Gouripur and Gafargaon Upazilas.
The victims have been identified as Rahmat Ali Ujjal, 30, a grocer from Konapara village in Gouripur, and Momtaz Ali Khan, 58, from Dhairgaon village in Gafargaon.
In Gafargaon's Usthi Union, Momtaz was fatally struck by lightning while he was returning home after attending Zuhr prayer.
A farmer was killed in a lightning strike in the Meshi Haor area in front of Hatiya village under Sukhari union of Atpara upazila in Netrakona. The deceased was identified as Altu Mia, 65, son of the late Lal Mia of the same village.
A farm worker was killed by lightning while harvesting paddy in the Boro Haor area of Karimganj upazila in Kishoreganj. The deceased was identified as Helal Mia.
