At least nine people were killed and two others sustained injuries from lightning strikes in Chattogram, Feni, Manikganj and Magura districts on Sunday. In Chattogram, four people including two women were killed and two others injured as thunderbolt struck them in Fatikchhari, Boalkhali and Mirsarai upazilas of the district in the morning. Lucky Das, 38, wife of Banuswar Das and Bhanu Sheel, 40, wife of Jugendra Sheel of Kanchannagar Dulurpara in Fatikchhari upazila, were killed and two others injured being hit by lightning while they were working at a field during rain around 11 am, said Kanchannagar union parishad member Afsar Uddin. The injured women identified as Maloti rani Das, 50, wife of Mantosh Dash and Shobha Rani Dey, 45, wife of Bhuban Dey were taken to Abdul Monayem General Hospital. Also read: Lightning strikes kill four in Dhaka amid rain Besides, Sazzad Hossain, 16, son of Mosharraf Hossain of East Domkhali village in Mirsarai upazila was killed by lightning strike while he was working at a field with his father. Meanwhile, Mohammad Jahangir, 39, a day labourer, was killed by lightning strike in Boalkhali upazila in the morning. In Feni, two people including a minor boy were killed when a thunderbolt struck them at Alampur village in Sonagazi upazila in the morning. The deceased were identified as Sazeda Akter Sathi, 15, a madrasha student and daughter of Soleman of Alampur village and Al Amin, 6, and son of Mohammad Bahar of Charsahabikari village in the upazila. Also read: Lightning strikes to kill 3 in Chapainawabganj In Manikganj, two people, including a college student were killed by lightning strikes in Ghior and Daulatpur upazila. The deceased were identified as Shahin,18 and Mostofa, 40. Meanwhile in Magura’s Mohammadpur upazila, a housewife named Sakiron Nesa, 50 was killed by a streak of lightning as she was doing household chores. Officer-in-Charge of Mohammadpur police station, Tarak Nath Bishwash said a case of unnatural death was filed in this connection. 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. Also read: 6 killed by lightning strikes in Sirajganj, Cumilla 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. 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, avoiding 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.

Four people, including three children, were killed by lightning strikes in Malibagh Chowdhurypara and Adabar areas in the capital during rains on Thursday. The victims were identified as Sabina Pakhi, 10, Shoma alias Jhoma, 12, Abdul Hoque, 65, and Alu, 14. Deputy Commissioner (Tejgaon Division) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Md Shahidullah told UNB that thunderbolts struck them between 2:00pm and 2:30 pm. Of them, two children and a sexagenarian man were killed near Malibagh Abul Hotel under Hatirjheel police station while another girl, aged around 14, died in Adabar area, he said. Also read: Lightning strikes to kill 3 in Chapainawabganj Sources at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) said when Sabina Pakhi and Shoma alias Jhoma were playing in front of their tin-shed house a lightning strike hit them around 2:15 pm, leaving them unconscious, said Habib, who rescued Pakhi and took her to the DMCH.

At least three people were killed Friday afternoon, including two of the same family, by lightning strikes in separate  places in Chapainawabganj. The incidents occurred in the afternoon during thunderstorms. The deceased were identified as Annie Begum, 26, wife of Rana Ali of Panchrashia village of Sadar upazila’s Sundarpur union, her son Nur Mohammad, 6, and Yamin Arafat, 10, son of Abdul Matin of Bakhar Ali village of Charbagdanga union. Also read: 6 killed by lightning strikes in Sirajganj, Cumilla Sundarpur Union Parishad Chairman Habibur Rahman, said the mother and son went to collect mangoes near their house during the storm in the afternoon. They died on the spot when lightning struck. Charbagdanga Union Parishad member Hossain Ali Jhatu said Yamin Arafat was struck by lightning while collecting mangoes in a garden during a storm. Sadar Upazila Project Implementation Officer Moudud Alam Khan said he was informed of the deaths by local representatives. Also read: Lightning strikes kill 10 across country, including 6 in Jamalpur The families would get financial assistance from the government fund, he said.  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.

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.