Afternoon lightning strikes at least kill 10, including 8 farmers, across country

At least 10 people, including eight farmers, were killed by lightning strikes in four districts—Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, Chapainawabganj, and Habiganj—today (11 May).

With these latest deaths, lightning strikes have killed at least 29 people across the country in the past two weeks, including over a dozen farmers.

Meanwhile, two people died in Mymensingh after trees fell on them during a nor'wester in two separate incidents.

In Brahmanbaria, five people — including four farmers — died in separate lightning incidents in Akhaura and Nasirnagar upazilas this afternoon.

The deceased were identified as Abdur Razzak, 35, Shamsul Huda, 65, Sheikh Selim, 60, Jamir Khan, 22, and Zakia Begum, 8.

Md Khairul Alam, officer-in-charge of Nasirnagar police station, said around 3pm, several workers were harvesting paddy in Tekanagar village of Nasirnagar Sadar union when it began to rain with strong winds. As they ran toward a nearby school for shelter, Abdur Razzak was struck by lightning and died on the spot before reaching the school.

At the same time, another farmer, Shamsul Huda, was killed by lightning while grazing cows near an embankment in Gokarna village under Gokarna union.

Around 3:30pm, a child named Zakia died after lightning struck her while she was playing in the yard of her home in Durgapur village under Bhalakut union.

Akhaura police reported that farmer Selim Mia died around 3pm after lightning struck him while he was returning from harvesting paddy in Ruti village of Dharkhar union.

In a separate incident in the same union, another farmer, Jamir Khan, was killed by lightning on his way to harvest paddy in Bongaj village.

In Kishoreganj, three people were killed by lightning between 3pm and 4pm — two in Bhairab upazila and one in Kuliarchar upazila.

The deceased were Faisal Mia, 22, of Srinagar village in Srinagar union; Faruk Mia, 50, of Rasulpur village in Sadekpur union — both in Bhairab; and Kabir Mia, 24, of Hazarinagar village in Chhaysuti union of Kuliarchar upazila.

Faruk Mia died around 4:30pm after being struck by lightning while cutting paddy in a haor area. Faisal Mia died after lightning struck him while he was carrying straw to a nearby field next to his home. Kabir Hossain also died after lightning struck him while he was working in a crop field, reports UNB.

In Chapainawabganj, a farmer named Md Kaimul, 40, was killed by lightning while harvesting paddy in Bulonpur village under Sadar upazila.

In Habiganj, a young man named Saju Mia, 20, died after lightning struck him while he was bathing in a drain in Azmiriganj upazila around 5pm.

Earlier on 6 May, six people, including four farmers and two schoolgirls, were killed in separate lightning strikes across the districts of Sunamganj, Jhenaidah, and Kishoreganj.

On 4 May, two siblings were killed when a thunderbolt struck them while catching fish in Jamuna River in Sariakandi upazila of Bogura district.

On 30 April, a farmer was tragically killed by a lightning strike at Sultan village under Kaya union of Kushtia's Kumarkhali upazila.

On 28 April, 10 people died in separate incidents of lightning strikes in Cumilla, Sunamganj, Habiganj and Kishoreganj districts.

2 killed as trees fell

The incidents occurred in the Barera and Marakuri areas of Ghagra Union around 4pm today, confirmed Md Shafiqul Islam Khan, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model police station.

The victims were identified as Sajib, 20, of Barera, and Suruj Mia, 55, of Marakuri.

Locals said that when the storm suddenly began, Sajib took shelter under a tree. The tree then fell on him, and he died on the spot.

Meanwhile, Suruj Mia was standing next to his house in Marakuri when a branch fell on his head, seriously injuring him. Locals took him to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) forecast rain or thunder showers with lightning flashes and gusty winds today at a few places over Dhaka and Chattogram divisions.