10 killed in lightning strikes in 4 districts

Ten people died in separate incidents of lightning strikes in Cumilla, Sunamganj, Habiganj and Kishoreganj districts today (28 April). 

In Cumilla, five including two schoolboys and a school girl  were killed by lightning in Barura and Muradnagar upazila. 

Among the victims, Fahad Hossain, 13, and Symon Hossain, 13, were both sixth-grade students at Barharipur High School. Two other deceased were identified as Nikil Chandra Debnath, and Jewel Bhuiyan.

Eyewitnesses said that despite light clouds, the boys were flying kites in the field when suddenly a lightning strike hit them. The two boys were severely injured and were rushed to the hospital by locals, where doctors declared them dead. 

Barura Upazila Executive Officer Nu Emang Marma Mong confirmed the deaths due to lightning strikes.

Meanwhile, in Muradnagar, two farmers died in a lightning strike while working in a field. Three others were injured in the incident and are reported to have lost their hearing.

The incident occurred at around 11:30am in the East Kurbanpur cemetery area in the eastern part of the East Dhoir Union of Muradnagar upazila.

Local sources reported that the two farmers, Nikil and Jewel, went to the field to cut rice this morning. As the weather worsened, a lightning strike struck them, causing the fatal accident.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bangra Bazar police station, Mahfuzur Rahman, confirmed the deaths and said that the bodies of the deceased had been handed over to their families. 

Meanwhile, a 10-year-old schoolgirl, Meem Akhtar, died while accompanying her father to collect harvested paddy from farmland in Saharpara of Debidwar upazila around 12:30pm. Meem, the daughter of Emon Mia from Saharpara village, was a student at Suryapur Kotkandi Government Primary School.

Local sources said Meem was helping her father and maternal grandfather retrieve the Boro paddy from the field when a thunderstorm hit. As lightning struck nearby, she suffered a heart attack and passed away.

Debidwar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Abul Hasnat Khan confirmed the incident, stating, "We have received news of the child's death, and the government will provide assistance to the family."

In Kishoreganj, two farmers and a woman were killed in two separate incidents of lightning strikes today.

The victims are Fulesha Begum, 65, wife of late Ashrab Ali, a resident of Raniganj Kewarjor area of Mithamoin upazila and farmers Indrajit Das, 36, son of late Jatindra Das of Halalpur village and Swadhin Mia, 14, son of Idris Mia of Khairpur village in Austagram upazila.

Fulesha died on the spot when lightning struck her while she was drying paddy straw near her home at Shantiganj Haor in Mithamoin upazila around 8:30 am, said Mithamoin Police Station sub-inspector Arpan Biswas.

Indrajit and Swadhin were killed by a lightning strike while harvesting paddy in Halalpur Haor of Austagram upazila around 10:00am, said Austagram Police Station officer-in-charge Md Ruhul Amin said.

In Sunamganj, a youth was killed in a lightning strike at Kalikota haor under Shalla upazila.

The deceased was identified as Rimon Talukder, 20, son of Jahed Talukder of Atgaon village of the upazila.

The lightning followed by a rainstorm hit Rimon when he was grazing cattle in the haor at 6:30am. Rimon died on the spot. A cow was also killed in the lightning strike, said Officer-in-Charge of Shalla Police Station Md Shafiqul Islam.

In Habiganj, a 35-year-old man was killed and his two brothers were injured in a lightning strike while harvesting paddy in the district today.

The deceased was identified as Durbasha Das, son of Kalabashir Das of Ariyamughur village in Baniachong upazila of the district.

The incident took place in the Purbir Haor of Daulatpur Union in the upazila around 1pm, said Baniachang Police Station OC Kabir Hossain.

Locals said Durbasha Das and his two brothers, Bhushan Das (38) and Sudhanya Das (25), were harvesting paddy in the haor when the lightning struck them.