United News of Bangladesh

At least nine people were killed by lightning strikes in Gaibandha, Bogura, Thakurgaon, Sirajganj and Natore districts on Sunday. Among the deceased, five people died in Gaibandha and one each in Bogura, Thakurgaon, Sirajganj, and Natore. In Gaibandha, five people were killed by lightning strikes in Phulchhari, Saghata and Sundarganj upazilas of the district on Sunday afternoon. The deceased were identified as Mizanur Rahman, Manik Mia, Nambar Ali, Fuad and Rafi. Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman Mollah said Fuad and Rafi were children, as well as cousins. Dhopadanga Union Parishad Chairman Mokhlesur Rahman Mondal said that the two cousins, Fuad and Rafi, were struck while playing in the verandah of a house in South Dhopadanga village. Locals rushed them to Gaibandha General Hospital, where doctors declared them dead. Farmer Manik Mia was killed by lightning while working in a field in Phulchhari upazila. Another victim, Nambar Ali, a farmer from Saghata upazila, also died in a lightning strike, said the DC. Sundarganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Iffat Jahan Tuli said she was informed about the two deaths in Dhopadanga. Meanwhile in Thakurgaon, a 40-year-old woman died after being struck by lightning in Pirganj upazila of the district. 2 East West University students injured in lightning strike at DU campus The deceased was identified as Selina Akhter, wife of Md. Rashidul Islam, a resident of Niamatpur village of Saidpur union in the upazila. Selina died while working near her house in the evening, said Pirganj Police Station OC Mazharul Islam. Meanwhile, various villages in Thakurgaon district were devastated by a two-day Kalboishakhi storm on Saturday and Sunday. In Bogura, a 35-year-old farmer named Sumon was killed in Gabtoli upazila. He had gone to bring back a goat from a nearby field during sudden heavy rain when lightning struck him, killing him on the spot. An unnatural death (UD) case was filed in this regard. In Sirajganj, another farmer died after being struck by lightning while working in a field next to his home in Tarash upazila. Deceased Abdul Hamid, 50, was the son of late Gafur Ali of Betrashin village in the upazila. Tarash Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Shaha Alam said police visited the spot and legal action will be taken in this incident. A day labourer was killed after being struck by lightning in Singra upazila of Natore. The victim, Somrat Hossain, 26, was the son of Saja Fakir of Nagardala village in Shahjadpur upazila of Sirajganj. He had come to Natore to work as a paddy harvester. Somrat was struck by lightning while working in a paddy field in the Thengapakuria area of Dahiya union in the Chalan Beel region of Singra upazila. His co-workers rescued him and took him to Natore Sadar General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Former chairman of Dahiya Union Shariful Islam confirmed the matter, citing local residents. Police in all affected areas visited the sites and said legal procedures are underway.

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. Also read: Lightning strikes kill 16 people including 8 in Netrokona 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. Also read: Lightning strike kills 2 in Rajshahi 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. Also read: 6 killed by lightning strikes in Kushtia, Bogura 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.

A man and his son were killed after being struck by lightning while they were harvesting paddy at Kalaruka area of Sadar upazila on Saturday noon.