Five people were killed and another injured in separate lightning strikes in Chapainawabganj and Naogaon districts on Monday. In Chapainawabganj, three people, including two farmers, were killed in separate lightning strikes in Sadar, Gomostapur and Bholahat upazilas on Monday. The deceased were identified as Omar Ali, 52, a farmer from Sadar upazila’s Jamtala area, Shariful Islam, 35, a resident of Gomostapur upazila’s Prosadpur area, and Anowar Hossain, 60, a farmer from Bholahat upazila’s Mushrivuja area. Lightning kills 3 in Chapainawabganj Omar was killed as a streak of lightning hit him while working in a field, said Sadar upazila’s UNO Rowshan Ali. Anowar died when a thunderbolt struck him while working in a paddy field, said Officer-in-Charge of Bholahat police station Selim Reza. Shariful was struck by lightning while he was sitting on the porch of his house, said Gomostapur police station's officer-in-charge Mahbubur Rahman. In Naogaon, two people were killed and another injured in separate incidents of lightning strikes in Porsha and Dhamoirhat upazilas of the district in the morning. Lightning kills 2 farmers in Kushtia Zahurul Islam, officer-in-charge of Porsha Police Station, said Abdul Jabbar, 30, son of Nazrul Islam of Paschim Duarpal village, was killed and Mehedi Hasan was injured when a streak of thunderbolt struck them while catching fish in the Punarbhaba River around 6 am. Mehedi was taken to a local hospital. Meanwhile, Muminul Rahman, 22, son of Azizur Rahman of Moishar village in Dhamoirhat upazila, was killed by the lightning strike while working at a paddy field at noon, said Mozammel Haque, officer-in-charge of Dhamoirhat Police Station. 2 dead in lightning during football match in Kushtia

The government of Bangladesh has issued some precautionary measures to avoid deaths and injuries by lightning strikes, which have already been declared a national disaster. Lightning strikes kill 250 people on an average every year in the country, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Thunderbolts also kill or injure a large number of livestocks. Lightning strikes mostly occur in from April to May till June and most of the deaths occur in flat lands and haor areas, said a handout of PID issued on Tuesday (May 23, 2023). Nine people including a woman died after being struck by lightning in Narsingdi, Chandpur, Kurigram Brahmanbaria districts on Tuesday. According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, 2,164 people died in lightning strikes in the country from 2011 to 2020. Considering the upward trend, the government in 2016 declared it as a natiinal disaster. Also read: Lightning strike kills 5 in Shariatpur, Barishal To avoid casualties, the government has asked people to take the following precaution: • Thunderbolts usually last 30 to 35 minutes and people have been asked to remain in their respective houses during this period. It is safe to go out wearing rubber shoes in case of any emergency which will protect people from thunderbolts. • People, who are in open paddy fields during thunderbolt, have been asked to sit down on their toes and put fingers in their ears. • People have been asked to take shelter under concrete sheds or buildings as soon as possible and refrain from going over the rooftop or high places during this time. • Children have been asked to refrain from playing outside and stay inside home. Read more: Lightning strike turning into deadliest disaster in Bangladesh: Experts • Avoid places where there are tall trees, electric poles and mobile towers as it is dangerous to take shelter under trees. • People should refrain from catching fish by a boat without a shed. It also asked people to stop fishing in the sea or the river during thunderbolt. • If someone is inside the vehicle, then the body cannot be connected to the metal part of the vehicle. • There is no problem touching any injured people hit by lightning strikes and people should be treated in the same way as those injured by electric shock. Efforts should be taken to restore the breathing and heart rate of the person injured by lightning quickly. It may be possible to save if artificial breathing can be arranged within a few minutes, if there is any delay it may invite death. • Provide Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to activate the heart of injured victims and take the victim to the hospital by ambulance or vehicle as soon as possible. Read more: Thunderstorm Lightning Struck Safety Tips: Stay Prepared.

At least three people were killed and 7 others injured by lightning strikes in Kushtia and Natore districts on Tuesday, police said. In Kushtia, Jahangir Alam,45, and his 15-year-old daughter Julia, of Atigram area in Mirpur upazila, were injured by lightning while working on his land near his house Tuesday morning. Locals rushed them to Mirpur upazila health complex where a physician declared Jahangir dead on arrival. Read: Over 400 BNP members booked over Faridpur clash Later, Julia was shifted to Kushtia General Hospital as her condition worsened. Ashraful Islam,40, a fisherman, was killed being hit by a thunderbolt while he was fishing in a waterbody in Moslempur of Bahirchar Union of Bheramara Upazila, said Mojibur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Bheramara police station. Meanwhile, five women were injured by lightning in Chithlia Union of Mirpur Upazila Tuesday morning. The injured were admitted to Mirpur Upazila Health Complex. In Natore, a farmer was killed and another one was injured by lightning strike while they were working in a paddy field Tuesday morning. Read: ‘Robber’ lynched in Chattogram The deceased was identified as Belal Miyaji ,45, a resident of Bhavanipur village in Baraigram upazila. Belal died on the spot while injured Selim,40,was admitted to a local private hospital, said Abu Siddique, officer-in-charge of Baraigram police station.

A man and woman died after being struck by lightning strikes in Manikganj and Khulna districts on Monday.In Manikganj, a 50-year-old woman was killed when a thunderbolt struck her in Manikganj's Ghior upazila on Monday noon.The deceased was identified as Anwara Begum, wife of Ishak, a farmer of Charbaijuri village in Payla Union. Read: ‘Robber’ lynched in ChattogramMd Aminur Rahman, officer in charge of Ghior police station, said Anwara was struck by lightning while collecting grass for cows in the field next to her house.She died on the spot, the OC said, adding that they are investigating the matter.In Khulna, a fisherman was killed by a lightning strike in Koyra upazila of Khulna district on Monday.Shahidul Gazi, 59, died on the spot while working in his fish enclosure at Patlia Bill, said local UP member Aybur Rahman Sana.Lightning strikes in BangladeshLightning strike is one of the deadliest natural disasters in Bangladesh, claiming over 200 lives every year. Read: Fatal level crossing: Mother, son killed as train hits human hauler in Faridpur According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, 2,164 people died in lightning strikes in the country from 2011 to 2020.That means 216 people die every year on average from lightning strikes -more than in floods, cyclones and other calamities.More than 70 percent of the total lightning strikes occur between April and June, say experts.

At least 12 people were killed, and two others injured by lightning strikes in Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Lalmonirhat, Sirajganj and Keraniganj districts Friday, police said. The number is the year's highest single-day death toll caused by lightning strikes, the last addition to the government's list of natural disasters in Bangladesh.  In Mymensingh, six people, including three children, were killed as they were struck by lightning in different parts of the district. Sayed Mian, 12, Swadhin, 11, and Shaon,7, of Kankarhati village in Nandail upazila died while playing football as a thunderbolt struck them down. Also, two fishermen were killed in a lightning strike while they were fishing on a nearby waterbody in Balapara, Mymensingh Sadar. The deceased were identified as Abu Bakkar, 40, and Jahangir Alam, 32, of the area, said Shah Kamal Akand, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station. Abu Sayed, 30, was injured by a lightning strike while fishing at Ghogra Beel in Dhobaura upazila during rain. He died while being rushed to Dhobaura Upazila Health Complex, said Tipu Sultan, officer-in-charge of Dhobaura Police Station. In Sirajganj, a businessman was killed and two workers injured when a thunderbolt struck them down in River Jamuna River in Sadar upazila. "The deceased was identified as Razzak Munshi, 50, from Katangar Char, Sadar upazila. The injured are Saiful, 28, and Shamim, 32, of Ekdala area of the upazila," Mohammad Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sadar Police Station, said. In Keraniganj, a teenage boy was killed after being hit by lightning while playing football in the Rohitpur area. The deceased was identified as Sajib Sarker, 18, of the area, said Abu Salam Miah, officer-in-charge of Keraniganj Model Police Station. In Lalmonirhat, Abdul Motin, 52, a fisherman from Hatibandha upazila was killed after being hit by lightning while fishing, said Abul Hashem Talukder, chairman of Saniajan union of the upazila. In Bogura, a farmer was killed after being hit by lightning while working in his paddy field. The deceased was identified as Tojbel Hossain, 70, from Elangi union of Dhunat upazila, Tojammel Haque, chairman of Elangi Union Parishad, said. In Sherpur, a 35-year-old man was killed after being struck by lightning in Nakla upazila in the early hours of Friday, police said. The deceased was identified as Showkat Ali of the area. He was an office assistant at Kayda Uttar Government Primary school. According to family sources, Showkat along with his younger brother Mehedi Hasan went to repair pond edges to stop the fishes in the body of water from getting washed away. At that time, Shawkat was struck by lightning. He was declared dead after being rushed to Upazila Health Complex, said Mohammad Mushfiqur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Nakla Police Station. In Jamalpur, a 15-year-old boy died after being struck by lightning in Sarishabari upazila while catching fish. Shakil, a ninth-grader, was declared dead after being rushed to the hospital, Dr Debasish Rajbongshi, resident medical officer of Sarishabari Upazila Health Complex, said. Read: Lightning kills 2 in Chapainawabganj

Six including two adolescents were killed and three others were injured as lightning struck them on Tuesday at different places of Tangail, Brahmanbaria, Meherpur and Habiganj. In Tangail, three including two juveniles were killed and two others wounded at Hatia under Kalihati upazila as a streak of thunderbolt struck them while bathing in the New Dhaleshwari River around 9am. The deceased were identified as Md. Arif Mia 15, son of Rabiul,  Mostafa Kamal, 21, son-in-law of Abdur Razzak of Hatia village, and Faisal Udddin, 16, son of Zulhas Uddin of Dashkia Purbopara village under Dashkia union. The injured are Rakib Mia and Zahid Hossain.  Confirming the news, Dashkia union parishad chairman Malek Bhuiyan said the injured two are undergoing treatment at the hospital. Read: Lightning strike kills 2 in Dinajpur In Brahmanbaria, youth Rony Mia, 22, son of late Mohammad Ali of Durgapur of the municipality was killed as lightning struck him while he was offering prayer at the grave of his grandparents after Eid Jamaat in the morning.  In Meherpur, a man named Abdur Razzak was killed and his brother Montu was injured as a thunderbolt struck them at Monohurpur village under sadar upazila in the morning while they were going to the local Eidgah maidan to join the Eid congregation. Meherpur General Hospital residential medical officer Moklesur Rahman confirmed the matter to UNB. In Habiganj, lightning struck Shahjahan Mia, 60, while he was bathing in a pond of Azmeriganj in the morning.  

Two farmers were killed by lightning strike while working in a  Haor at Dhitpur village in Dirai upazila Friday afternoon. The deceased were identified as Rabindra Das, 55 and Tipu Das, 25 of the village. The two farmers died on the spot when a streak of thunderbolt struck them while they were covering their harvested paddy at Dabhanga Haor around 5:30 pm, said Ekbar Hossain, chairman of Kulonja Union. Lightning strikes in Bangladesh Lightning strike has turned into one of the deadliest natural disasters in Bangladesh claiming over 200 lives every year due to the loss of natural defense and lack of precautionary measures. Also read:Lightning strikes kill 2 in Cox’s Bazar According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, 2,164 people died in lightning strikes in the country from 2011 to 2020. At least 216 people die every year on average in lightning strikes, more than by floods, cyclones and other natural calamities.    Experts said about 70 percent of the total lightning strikes usually occur between April and June, and advise everyone to move with caution during this time.  

Some 2,800 people were killed in lightning strikes in open fields and haors across the country from 2011 to 2021, said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamur Rahman. Of them, 179 people were killed in 2011, 201 in 2012, 185 in 2013, 170 in 2014, 226 in 2015, 391 in 2016, 307 in 2017, 359 in 2018, 198 in 2019, 255 in 2020 and 329 in 2021, he said. The government has planned to establish shelter centres in lightning-prone areas of the country, said Enamur while speaking at a press briefing at the secretariat ahead of International Day of Disaster Risks Reduction. Read: Lightning kills 2 in Bandarban “The government has decided to build a concrete house on one decimal of land with one lightning arrester in each house so that people can take shelter there within 20-25 minutes after hearing the warning of lightning,” he said. People will stay there until the lightning strikes, Enamur added.

A 30-year-old man was killed and four others were injured after lightning struck a tea stall in Atwari upazila of Panchagarh on Monday night. The deceased was identified as Ranjit Barman, son of Bhujen Barman, a resident of the Roseya Durga Mandir area of the upazila's Randhanagar union. Read: Lightning kills two in Kurigram The injured have been identified as Ganesh, 45, Kulin, 45, Paritosh, 32, and Bhabesh, 55, of the same area. Police said that the five were having tea at the roadside stall in the Durga Mandir area in the night when they were struck by a bolt of lightning during heavy rains. The five were immediately rushed to Atwari Upazila Health Complex by local residents, where doctors declared Ranjit dead on arrival. Read: 2 killed by lightning strike in Manikganj Bhabesh was subsequently shifted to Thakurgaon Adhunik Sadar Hospital as his condition deteriorated. Md Ijaruddin, officer-in-charge of Atwari police station, said the other three injured are currently undergoing treatment at the upazila health complex.

Two farmers were killed when a thunderbolt struck them at Agrapanch baria village in Shahjahanpur upazila of Bogura district on Saturday evening. The deceased were- Shahidul Islam, 28, son of Abul Hossain and Rakibul Hossain alias Rakib, 27, son of Khoka Mia of the village. Read:Lightning strike kills 17 in Chapainawabganj, injures 11 Quoting witnesses, Nannu Khan, inspector of Shahjahanpur Police station,said a streak of thunderbolt struck on Shahidul and Rakib while they were planting chilli on their field, leaving them dead. Lightning strikes in Bangladesh Lightning strike has turned into one of the deadliest natural disasters in Bangladesh claiming over 200 lives every year due to the loss of natural defense and lack of precautionary measures. Read:Lightning strike turning into deadliest disaster in Bangladesh: Experts According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, 2,164 people died in lightning strikes in the country from 2011 to 2020. At least 216 people die every year on average in lightning strikes, more than by floods, cyclones and other natural calamities.  Experts said about 70 percent of the total lightning strikes usually occur between April and June, and advise everyone to move with caution during this time.