4 killed in lightning strikes in 3 districts

Four people have been killed in lightning strikes in Jamalpur, Narsingdi, and Netrakona.

In Jamalpur, a teenager was killed in Madarganj upazila around noon today.

The victim is Md Hashem Ali, 15, of the upazila.

Hashem was transporting paddy on a horse-drawn cart when he was hit by a lightning strike, said OC Madarganj Police Station Hasan Al Mamun.

Locals brought him to the Madarganj 100-bed Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead on arrival, confirmed Rakibul Hasan, its resident medical officer.

In Narsingdi, a youth died while collecting paddy from the banks of the Arial Khan river in Chhar Ujilab union of Belabo upazila around 12:00pm.

The victim is Md Prodip Mia, 45, of Chhar Amlab Paschim Para village, said Belabo Police Station Mahbubur Rahman.

Quoting family members, OC Mahbubur Rahman said Prodip had gone to the riverside near his home to collect paddy. At that time, a storm broke out and he died on the spot after being struck by lightning.

The body was handed over without an autopsy.

In Netrakona, two farmers died yesterday while fishing in a beel (waterbody) in Mohanganj.

The deceased are Pappu Mia, 28, and his cousin Tanzid, 17, residents of Perirchar village, police said.

Mohanganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Aminul Islam said the two men had gone fishing last afternoon. Since they did not return after a storm broke out, family members conducted a search.

Around 10:30am this morning, locals found their bodies near a tree in the beel and informed police.

Their bodies had burn injuries consistent with lightning strikes, the OC added.

[Our correspondents from Netrakona, Jamalpur, and Narsingdi contributed to the report.]