Lightning kills six in Naogaon, Barishal, Natore

Lightning strikes killed six people in separate incidents in Naogaon, Barishal and Natore districts yesterday (21 May).

Three people died in Naogaon, two in Barishal and one in Natore, according to district correspondents.

In Naogaon's Raninagar upazila, two farmers – Akkas Fakir, 60, and his relative Tarek Fakir, 24 – were killed while harvesting paddy during rain at Jathail village. In another incident in the same upazila, Nayan Talukdar of Guata Atnitapra village died around 11am while bringing cattle back from a field amid rain.

Raninagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zakaria Mondal said the two farmers died on the spot. Police later recovered the bodies and handed them over to their families. Upazila Project Implementation Officer Nazrul Islam said each victim's family would receive Tk20,000 in assistance.

In Barishal's Gournadi upazila, two workers died and another was injured after lightning struck a betel leaf garden in the Mahilarar Bhimer Par area around 2pm. The deceased were identified as Abu Taleb Hawladar and Sukanto Bala, 38.

Gournadi Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tarique Hasan Russel confirmed the deaths, adding that the injured person was admitted to Gournadi Upazila Health Complex.

In Natore's Lalpur upazila, brick kiln worker Esken Ali, 60, died and another worker was injured after lightning struck a brick field in the Sirajipur area during a morning storm.

Lalpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shafiqul Islam said both workers fell unconscious after being struck by lightning. They were taken to Lalpur Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared Esken Ali dead.