TDS Desk:

At least 14 people were killed and several others injured in lightning strikes across seven districts of the country on Sunday, with incidents occurring from morning through afternoon.

The highest casualties were reported from Gaibandha district where five people lost their lives.

Among the fatalities, five killed in Gaibandha, two each in Sirajganj, Jamalpur and Thakurgaon districts; and one each in Bogura, Natore and Panchagarh districts. Multiple others sustained injuries and several cattle also died in the incidents.

In the deadliest single incident, three people were killed simultaneously in a lightning strike at South Dhopapanga village in Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha around 4:30 PM. The victims were identified as Fuad, 14, son of former UP chairman Jahangir Alam Suja Chowdhury, Rafi, 12, son of Al Mujahid Chowdhury Chhoto Mia, and Mizanur,20, son of Nabin Hossain. One of the victims, Rafi, was a fifth-grade student at a local school. Another person, Shamim, 18, was injured and hospitalized, while a cow standing nearby also died.

Dhopapanga Union Parishad Chairman Md Mokleshur Rahman Mondal confirmed that the victims were standing on a road near their homes when lightning struck directly. The entire area has been engulfed in mourning over such sudden and tragic deaths, he said.

Sundarganj Police Station officer-in-charge Shahin Mohammad Amanullah confirmed the three deaths, adding that one cattle died and one person was injured and undergoing treatment.

Elsewhere in Gaibandha, Manik Hossain, 22, was killed along with his horse while driving a horse cart in Jamira Char area of Fulchhari upazila. Fulchhari Union Parishad Chairman Azaharul Hannan said the youth was returning home with his horse seeing bad weather when lightning struck in the char area.

In Saghata upazila, Nombor Ali, 65, son of late Kachir Uddin from Helencha village, died after being struck by lightning while going to check on his goats beside his house during rain. He was declared dead at a nearby health center.

In Sirajganj, farmer Abdul Hamid, 50, died while working in a field at Betrasheen village in Tarash upazila around 4:30 PM. In another incident, Hasan Sheikh, 25, died while collecting cut paddy in Dhangora union of Raiganj upazila around 5 PM. Dhangora Union Parishad Panel Chairman Md Aminul Islam said the sudden incident cast a shadow of mourning over the area.

In Jamalpur, Hasmat Ali Hasu, 55, was critically injured by lightning while grazing cattle on a riverside char in Char Jatharthapur area of Sadar upazila and was declared dead at hospital. One of his cattle also died. In Melandaha upazila, housewife Marjina Akhtar, 22, died after being struck while cooking in her yard at Koraichura village. Another woman, Shefali Begum, was injured and is receiving treatment at Jamalpur General Hospital. Melandaha Police Station OC Obaidur Rahman confirmed the incidents.

In Bogura’s Gabtali upazila, Sumon, 35, died when lightning struck while he went to bring his goats from the field at Muchikhalai village around 3:45 PM. Police Inspector (Investigation) Md Abu Musa said the scene was inspected and an unnatural death case filing process is underway.

In Thakurgaon, two people died in separate incidents. Laboni Akhtar, 35, wife of Rashidul Islam from Niyamatpur village, was killed while returning home after cutting grass for cattle around 1:45 PM. Iliyas Ali, 37, son of Akbar Ali from Koshadangipara village, died when struck by lightning while checking crops in his field at noon. Pirganj Police Station OC Mohammad Majharul Islam confirmed both deaths and said unnatural death cases were filed.

In Natore’s Singra upazila, laborer Somrat Hossain, 26, died after being struck by lightning while taking shelter during a storm at Thanga Pakuria village in Chalan Beel area. He was cutting paddy with other workers when the storm began. He was declared dead after being taken to Natore Sadar Hospital. Singra Police Station OC Rafiqul Islam said the body will be handed over to the family after legal procedures.

In Panchagarh’s Atowari upazila, tea worker Sarwarddi, 21, died and two others were critically injured when lightning struck while collecting tea leaves at a garden in Sonapatila village of Dhamor union on Sunday morning. The injured, Mostafa, 45, and Jaherul Islam, 43, are receiving treatment at Panchagarh Modern Sadar Hospital. Dhamor Union Parishad Chairman Abu Taher Md Dulal confirmed the incident.