Staff Correspondent:

Four persons were killed in lightning strikes in separate places of Rangamati and Cox’s Bazar district on Thursday.

The incidents took place at Sylheti Para under Rangamati’s Sadar upazila, Rupkari union under Baghaichhari upazila, Magnama and Rajakhali unions under Peukua upazila in Cox’s Bazar district in the morning.

The dead were Nazir, 50, a resident of Sylheti Para in Rangamati town, and Baharjan Begum, 55, of Rupakari Union under Baghaichhari Upazila, Didarul Islam, 30, of Kolailladia area under Magnama Union, and Arafat Hossain,14, son of Jamal Hossain of Charipara area under Rajakhali Union of Pekua Upazila.

Baghaichhari’s Rupkari UP Chairman Jesmin Chakma said that Baharjan Begum, wife of Lal Mia of Muslim block village under Rupkari union, was killed by lightning while fetching cows in the rain.

Baghaichhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shirin Akter said after many days, it rained with thunder this morning. A woman named Baharjan was killed. The upazila administration has provided financial assistance of Tk 10,000 to the family of the deceased.

Dr. Shaukat Akbar of Rangamati General Hospital said that one person was brought to the hospital from Sylheti Para of the town in the morning. He was killed by lightning.

Magnama UP panel chairman Badiul Alam said deceased Didar used to work in salt fields near his house. When a cloud appeared in the sky in the morning, he was struck by lightning while picking salt like other workers. Locals rescued him in crictical condition and took to Pekua Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead.

On the other hand, at the same time, teenager Farhad Hossain was killed in lightning while going to a field with his father to collect salt. He died on the spot.

Local UP member Nurul Abshar Badu said that his body was recovered from the field and brought home.