United News of Bangladesh

At least seven people, including a woman and her son, were killed in separate lightning strikes in Gaibandha, Chapainawabganj, Joypurhat and Mymensingh districts on Wednesday. In Gaibandha, a woman and her son were killed after being struck by lightning in Saghata upazila in the evening. The deceased were identified as Kalpona Rani, 55, wife of Shailen Chandra Das of Mandura village, and their son Sohag Chandra Das, 32. Locals said Sohag, who works in Dhaka, had returned home on leave. When the weather turned stormy in the afternoon, his mother asked him to bring in straw that was left to dry outside the house. Shortly afterwards, the mother and son went outside and were struck by lightning, leaving them injured. They were taken to Gaibandha Sadar Hospital, but doctors declared them dead on arrival, said Varotkhali Union Parishad Chairman Md Faruk Hossain. In Chapainawabganj, two people were killed in as many lightning strikes in Sadar upazila in the afternoon. The victims were identified as Miraj, son of Md Babu of Bhabanipur village, and Munirul Islam, son of Md Mangal Hossain of Shiala Colony village under Chapainawabganj municipality. Family members said Miraj was packing mangoes in an orchard around 4:00pm when lightning struck him. Locals rescued and took him to Chapainawabganj District Hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival. In a separate incident around 3:00pm, Munirul was struck by a thunderstorm while standing near his house. Relatives rushed him to the same hospital, where he was also pronounced dead. Officer-in-Charge of Chapainawabganj Sadar Model Police Station Md Ekramul Hossain said police visited the locations after receiving the information and were taking necessary legal steps. In Joypurhat, two people, including a woman, were killed in separate lightning strikes in Sadar and Panchbibi upazilas. Joypurhat Sadar Police Station OC Noor Alam Siddiqui said Jahanara Begum, wife of farmer Harun Sheikh of Thiat Bilpara village in Dogachhi union, was struck by lightning while returning home after cutting paddy stalks. She succumbed to her injuries on the way to Joypurhat 250-bed General Hospital. In another incident, 59-year-old farmer Shamsuddin, son of late Mofiz of Kuatpur village in Panchbibi upazila, was killed by lightning during a sudden strike. In Mymensingh’s Dhobaura upazila, a teenage boy from an ethnic minority community was killed and another was injured in a lightning strike in Langaljora village. The deceased was identified as Orko Hajong, 18, son of Oshil Hajong. The injured was identified as Arkoddo, 14. According to local sources, the two friends went out to play football when lightning struck them during sudden rain. Locals rescued them and took them to Dhobaura Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared Orko Hajong dead. The injured was later sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. Dhobaura Police Station OC Shafiqul Islam said the body was handed over to the family following an inquest on request.

A 60-year-old man and his grandson died after being struck by lightning in Singra upazila of Natore on Wednesday. The deceased were identified as Amir Sheikh, and his sixth grader grandson Pappu, 14, of the upazila. Chowgram Union Parishad Chairman Jahedul Islam Bhola said the two were struck by lightning while fishing in a waterbody near their house on Wednesday evening. "The two died on the spot." Read: Lightning kills two, injures 7 in Natore Lightning strikes in Bangladesh Lightning strikes have turned into one of the deadliest natural disasters in Bangladesh, claiming over 200 lives every year. At least 216 people die every year on an average in lightning strikes, more than by floods, cyclones and other calamities. More than 70% of the total lightning strikes occur between April and June, say experts.

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.