Lightning kills 19 in 2 districts
At least 19 people were killed and 16 others injured by lightning in two incidents in Chapainawabganj and Kishoreganj yesterday.
Of the dead, 17 including five women are from Chapainawabganj. They were travelling with a groom to a marriage ceremony.
The groom and his guests started their journey from Surynarayanpur area of Chapainawabganj by a boat for the bride's home in Panka area of Shibganj upazila.
Lightning hit the boat when it reached Telikhari Ghat near Panka around noon. The incident left 17 people dead, said Moudud Alam Khan, project implementation officer (PIO) of Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila.
The groom survived.
As per government rules, the PIO is responsible for providing assistance to the families of the victims who die of lightning strikes.
Abdul Malek, officer-in-charge of Shibganj Police Station, said 16 of the dead were residents of Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila and the other one was from Shibganj upazila.
Ten of the injured were admitted to Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital, said Dr Nurun Nahar, resident medical officer of the hospital.
A two and a half years old baby boy was sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital as he was in critical condition, the RMO added.
In Kishoreganj, two fishermen were killed and five others injured by lightning in Nikli upazila.
The dead -- Julhu Mia, 50, and Shafiqul Islam, 35, -- were residents of Shahormul village in the same upazila.
Quoting locals, police said seven fishermen, including Julhu and Shafiqul, went to fishing in a haor around 10:00pm on Tuesday. They were hit by lightning around 1:00am yesterday.
Locals rescued the victims and rushed them to the health complex where doctors declared the duo dead, said Shamsul Alam Siddique, OC of Nikli Police Station.
Three of the injured were released from the health complex after being given first aid and the two others were sent to Kishoreganj General Hospital for better treatment, the OC added.
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