Lightning strikes kill nine in four districts

At least nine people were killed and two others were wounded in separate incidents of lightning strikes in Mymensingh, Lalmonirhat, Sirajganj and Keraniganj districts on Friday, reports UNB citing police.

In Mymensingh, six people, including three children, were killed separately as they were struck by lightning in different parts of the district.

Sayed Mian,12, son of Shahidullah, Swadhin,11, son of Hadis Miah and Shaon,7, son of Billal Hossain of Kankarhati village in Nandail upazila, died on the spot as a thunderbolt struck them while playing football at noon.

On the other hand, two fishermen were killed in a lightning strike while they were fishing on a nearby beel in Balapara area of Mymensingh Sadar upazila on friday noon.

The deceased were identified as Abu Bakkar ,40, son of Hassan Ali and Jahangir Alam, 32, son of Pocha Mia of the area.

The bodies were recovered from the beel and handed over to their families, said Shah Kamal Akand, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station.

Meanwhile, Abu Sayed, 30, son of Gafur Miah, was injured in a lightning strike while fishing at Ghogra Beel in Charmohini village of Dhobaura upazila during the rain on Friday morning.

He died on the way to Dhobaura Upazila Health Complex, said Tipu Sultan, officer-in-charge of Dhobaura police station.

In Sirajganj, a businessman was killed and two workers were injured when a thunderbolt struck them in the Jamuna River in sadar upazila on Friday noon.

The deceased was identified as Razzak Munshi, 50, son of Darbesh Ali Munshi of Barni village in Katangar Char in Sadar upazila while the injured are Saiful,28, and Sahmim, 32 of Ekdala area of the upazila.

Mohammad Nazrul Islam, officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sadar Police Station, said the trio was carrying bricks by boat for Asrayan Project. Around 12 noon, when they reached near Barni village, lightning started with heavy rain. At one stage, when lightning struck the boat, businessman Abdur Razzak went missing after falling from the boat and two others were injured.

A case has been filed in this regard, added the OC.

In Keraniganj, a teenage boy was killed after being hit by lightning while playing football in the Rohitpur area of Keraniganj around 10 am on Friday.

The deceased was identified as Sajib Sarker, 18 of the area, said Abu Salam Miah, officer-in-charge of Model Police Station.

The body was handed over to the family without an autopsy, added the OC.

In Lalmonirhat, Abdul Motin, 52, a fisherman of Sheikh Sundor village of Hatibandha upazila was killed after being hit by lightning while fishing on Thursday night, said Abul Hashem Talukder, chairman of Saniajan Union of the upazila.