Two farmers were killed in separate lightning strikes in Sunamganj Sadar upazila on Monday afternoon while harvesting paddy in haor areas, and three more people were injured in Shantiganj upazila, officials said.

The deceased were identified as Jamir Uddin, 40, son of Abdur Kadir of Abdullahpur village under Mollapara union of Sunamganj Sadar upazila, and Jamir Hossain, 42, son of Kayed Hossain of Baitakhali village under Gourarang union of the same upazila.

Lightning strikes in Sunamganj make Speaker question his life choices

Local people and eyewitnesses said Jamir Uddin was cutting paddy with other farmers in the Dekhar Haor area of Abdullahpur village when a sudden lightning strike seriously injured him amid cloudy weather. His colleagues rescued him and rushed him to Sunamganj Sadar Hospital, where the duty doctor declared him dead.

Around the same time, Jamir Hossain was struck by lightning while heading from his house to open a shop at the village river ghat. He was also taken to the same hospital in critical condition, but doctors pronounced him dead.

Dr Shafikur Rahman of Sunamganj Sadar Hospital confirmed the deaths of the two farmers.

In Shantiganj upazila, three more farmers were injured while harvesting paddy in a lightning strike. Locals rescued them and provided first aid.

The incidents cast a shadow of grief over the area as the peak paddy harvesting season continues in the haor region.

Local agricultural officials and the administration have urged farmers working in the haor to remain alert and follow weather forecasts. They also stressed the importance of seeking shelter in safe, concrete structures or leaving open areas quickly during thunderstorms.