United News of Bangladesh

A man and his son were killed in a lightning strike in Nandail Upazila of Mymensingh. The incident took place on Sunday afternoon in Abdullahpur village of Kharua Union of the Upazila. The deceased were expatriate Golam Mostafa, 45, and his son Abdullah, 9. Mohammad Anwar Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Nandail Model Police Station, said that expatriate Golam Mostafa was working on preparing a paddy seedbed on his land next to his house with his son Abdullah. Road crashes leave 8 dead in Mymensingh As the sky became cloudy and the sound of thunder started, Golam Mostafa got up from the seedbed and took shelter under a nearby tree to protect his son. In the meantime, lightning struck the father and son, leaving them seriously injured. Locals rushed to the spot and rescued them in critical condition. However, they later died en route to Nandail Upazila Health Complex, the OC added.

A Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) member was killed and four others were injured after being struck by lightning while on patrol along the Kauniya Char-Khetarchar border in Darbhanga union of Roumari upazila, Kurigram early Thursday. The deceased was identified as Riyad Hossain, 32, a member of the 35 BGB Battalion’s Darbhanga Border Outpost (BOP) based in Jamalpur. The injured are Md Jasim, 52, Nadim, 28, Shahin, 28, and Ansar member Ferdous Hossain, 36. Officer-in-Charge of Roumari Police Station Md Lutfor Rahman said the BGB team was patrolling the border area when lightning struck them, killing one and injuring four others. One killed, 15 injured in clash between two groups in Brahmanbaria The injured were taken to different hospitals for treatment. Subedar Farid of Darbhanga BGB camp under the 35 Battalion said the lightning strike occurred during heavy rain while the team was on patrol along the Kauniya Char-Khetarchar border area. All five members sustained serious injuries. They were immediately rescued and taken to Rowmari Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared Riyad Hossain dead. Dr Nabiul Islam, the resident medical officer (RMO) at the health complex, said Riyad was brought in dead. Two of the injured BGB members, who were in critical condition, were referred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, while the others are being treated locally.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has issued lightning alert for 16 districts, warning of gusty or squally winds accompanied by lightning flashes.According to a Met office bulletin, “Rain or thunder showers accompanied by lightning flashes and temporary Westerly and Northwesterly gusty or squally wind speed 45-60 KPH or more is likely in Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Mymensingh, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Bramanbaria, Noakhali, Cumilla, Chattogram and Cox'sBazar during next 02-04 hrs commencing from 8:45 am on Wednesday. Met office issues lightning alert in 21 distsIt also issues some directives including to stay safe from lightning:• When storm stay indoors,• Close windows and doors• Avoid travel if possible.• Take safe shelter.• Do not take shelter under trees.• Do not lie on concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls.• Unplug electrical/electronic devices.• Immediately get out of water bodies.• Keep away from the object that conduct electricity.• When hail starts don't go outside.  

Four people, including three schoolgirls, were killed in lightning strikes in Pakundia and Mithamain upazilas of Kishoreganj district on Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Faria Jannat Irina, 15, daughter of Jalal Uddin, Audrita Islam Priya, 15, daughter of Badal Mia, and Barsha, 15, daughter of Borhan Uddin, and Katu Mia, 40, son of late Abdul Motaleb. They were class nine students of local Charteki Girls’ School and College and going to the school to attend the scheduled an exam from 1pm. Lightning strike kills 2 siblings in Bogura The institution’s Principal Md Aminul Islam said a streak of thunderbolt struck them around 12:30pm on their way to the school, leaving them critically injured. Pakundia Upazila Health and Family Planning Official Dr Md Nur-e-Alam said Irina and Priya were brought dead and Barsha was shifted to Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College Hospital. She succumbed to her injuries there, he said. UNO Md Billal Hossain said the upazila administration provided the families with financial assistance for burial. Besides, farmer Motaleb was killed in lightning strike when he went to a field to fetch cattle amid the thunderstorm during the same time, said Officer-in-Charge of Mithamain police station Shaiful Alam.  

Two siblings were killed when a thunderbolt struk them while catching fish in Jamuna River in Sariakandi upazila of Bogura district on Sunday. The deceased were identified as Manmat Hawlada, 35 and Sabur Hawladar – sons of Kartik Hawladar of Boroitoli village. Quoting witnesses, Jamirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sariakandi Police Station, said a streak of thunderbolt struck on them while they were catching fish at Debdanga area in the river around 3 pm, leaving them dead on the spot. How to stay safe during lightning season The bodies were later handed over to the family members of the deceased.  

Three people were killed in separate lightning strike incidents across Rajshahi, Chandpur, and Bagerhat districts on Thursday. In Rajshahi’s Bagha upazila, a local farmer died after being struck by lightning while working in a field. The deceased was identified as Manik Hossain Mondol, 45. He sustained critical injuries and died on the way to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, said Abdul Awal, a former councillor of Arani municipality. In Chandpur, another farmer, Md Sahab Uddin, 26, died after being hit by lightning while harvesting paddy at Laukora village in Haziganj upazila around 2 pm. He was the son of the late Ershad Hossain and a resident of Ward-8 under the same upazila, said Md Mohiuddin Faruque, officer-in-charge of Haziganj Police Station. Myanmar frees around 4,900 prisoners to mark traditional new year Meanwhile, in Bagerhat’s Mongla upazila, a local BNP leader was killed in a similar incident. The victim, Md Nasir Uddin Sheikh, 55, was a resident of Sonakhali village and former organising secretary of Mithakhali union BNP. He was struck by lightning while catching fish in a pond near his house around 12:30 pm, said Manik Chandra Gain, officer-in-charge of Mongla Police Station. Nasir was rushed to the local health complex where doctors declared him dead, the OC added.

A woman died and three others were injured in a lightning strike in Paikgacha upazila of Khulna on Saturday. Paikgacha Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tushar Kanti Das confirmed the matter. The deceased was identified as Laki Khatun, 45, wife of Tofazzal of Laxmikhali village of the upazila. 14 injured in clash between two groups of Chhatra Dal in Narsingdi The injured are Santosh Sana, son of late Haripada Mandal of Orabunia village, and his wife Subhadra Sana and Fazila Khatun of the same village were admitted to the hospital. According to local UP member Hasanuzzaman, the four individuals were collecting algae in a shrimp enclosure owned by Bhutto on Saturday afternoon when a sudden thunderbolt struck, resulting in Laki Khatun's death and injuring the others. Loco master’s quick action saves woman's life in Narsingdi Santosh and Fazila were later discharged from the Upazila Health Complex; Subhadra Sana remains hospitalised for further treatment. The body will be sent to the morgue after an initial examination, said the OC.

Two people died and another sustained injuries in a lightning strike in a water body in Naldanga upazila of Natore early Friday, said police. The deceased were Abdul Momin, 35, and Raihan Ali, 33, while the injured is Sentu. Mostafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of the Naldanga police station, said the three went to Halti Beel to collect snails by a boat in the early morning. Suddenly a lightning struck leaving them critically injured, he said. Read: 297 killed by lightning strikes in 8 months: Survey Of them, Raihan succumbed to his injuries on way to Natore Sadar Hospital, Momin was declared dead upon arrival by the physicians at the hospital, he said. Sentu was sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for better treatment, the OC added.

A 26-year-old farmer died when lightning struck him at Ali Atnagar village in Alamdanga upazila of Chuadanga district on Wednesday evening. The deceased was identified as Abdul Gaffar, son of Hafizur Rahman of the village. Witnesses said, Gaffar along with some other farmers were working in a paddy field amid rain in the afternoon. At one stage, Gaffar fell on the field as lightning struck him, leaving him unconscious. Struck by lightning, teenager dies and cousin is injured in Sylhet Later, he was taken to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital where the doctors declared him dead around 6 pm, said Dr. Hasanur Rahman. Farmer killed by lightning in Sirajganj

Three people died after being struck by lightning in different areas of Pabna district on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Enamul Haq, 18, son of Abdul Majid; Moniruzzaman, 40; and Rafiqul Islam, 42.  According to Liakat Hossain, chairman of the Ekdanta Union Parishad of Atgharia, Enamul was cutting grass in the field at 3 pm when he died due to lightning during heavy rain.  Read more: Lightning strikes kill two in C’nawabganj Aminul Islam Amin, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Aminpur Police Station, said the rain began in the afternoon as farmer Moniruzzaman was working in a field near his house. Later, on his way home in the rain, he was struck by lightning and died.  According to Sujanagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdul Hannan, Rafiq was also working in the field when he was struck by lightning during the rain around 3 pm. He died on the spot.