At least 10 people died after being struck by lightning in Jamalpur, Chapainawabganj and Sylhet on Thursday .

Six of the deaths were reported from Jamalpur, three from Chapainawabganj and one from Sylhet.

In Jamalpur, six people died and five others were injured in lightning strikes in different areas of the Islampur upazila after the storm hit around 5pm.

The deceased were identified as Enamul, 45, Kala Sheikh, 40, Shah Jamal, 45, Bilal, 36, Mofizul Haque, 50 and Jabed Ali, 60.

Islampur Upazila Nirbahi Officer SM Mazhar said all the victims were working in field during rain. The injured have been hospitalised.

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The local administration will provide Tk 20,000 to each to the families of the dead, he said.

Meanwhile, three people, including a child, were killed in separate incidents of lightning strikes in Chapainawabganj.

The deceased were identified as Jalal Uddin, 40, from Uportola village in Mobarakpur union, Rahima Begum, 25, from Goabari Chandpur village and Mashrufa Khatun, 8, from Ajhor village in Kasba UP.

Tohrul Islam said his brother Jalal was struck by lightning while bringing paddy from field in Borogachi area of Bholahat union.

Rahima Begum was struck by lightning when she went out to call her children home during the storm.

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Nachol Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Selim Reza Khan said Mashrufa died after being struck by lightning when she was collecting mangoes beside her house.

Shibganj upazila’s project implementation officer Ariful Islam said families of the deceased will get financial assistance from the government.

In Goainghat upazila of Sylhet, Babul Mia, 34, died due to lightning strike when he was working in his own field around 8am.

Lightning safety tips

Lightning strikes claim hundreds of lives in Bangladesh every year. The deaths mostly occur in the warmer period of the year from April to June, as hailstorms occur most frequently during this time.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief in a guideline says lightning usually continues for 30-45 minutes and urged people to stay indoors or take cover during the period.

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Installing lightning insulation bars in every building in lightning prone regions is an essential long term safety measure, according to the ministry.

Recommended safety tips while outdoors during lightning include finding shelter immediately, wearing shoes with rubber sole, sitting down on toes, shutting ears while in open field, staying away from each other, avoid using electric instruments, staying away from tall trees, electric poles and mobile towers.

Checking the weather forecast before participating in any outdoor activities is essential to be safe from lightning in the stormy season.