Nor'wester lightning kills 14 across seven districts
Rainfall accompanied by lightning began in parts of the country, including Dhaka, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions after days of extreme heat.
Lightning strikes killed at least 14 people across seven districts of the country today (27 April), following Nor'wester (Kalbaishakhi) thunderstorms after a week of intense heatwave conditions, reports Prothom Alo, citing officials.
Five deaths were reported in Gaibandha, two each in Thakurgaon, Sirajganj and Jamalpur, and one each in Panchagarh, Bogura and Natore.
In Dhaka, two East West University students – Sufia Akhter (22) and Farah Akhter (22) – were injured as lightning rendered them unconscious. They were later taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where they received treatment in the Medicine Department.
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Rainfall accompanied by lightning began in parts of the country, including Dhaka, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions after days of extreme heat. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department said scattered rain may continue in the coming days, which could ease the ongoing heatwave.
Gaibandha: Five people, including children, were killed in lightning strikes in Sundarganj, Fulchhari and Saghata upazilas. One person was injured and a cow died in the incident. Victims were struck while standing near roads, working in fields or moving cattle feed during sudden thunderstorms.
Thakurgaon: Labaoni Akter, 35, and Ilias Ali, 37, died in Pirganj upazila while returning from fieldwork amid rain and lightning.
Sirajganj: Hossain Ali Sheikh, 25, and Abdul Hamid, 50, were killed in Raiganj and Tarash upazilas while working in fields during thunderstorms.
Jamalpur: Two people died and four others were injured in separate lightning incidents. The injured are receiving treatment at Jamalpur General Hospital. Several cattle were also killed.
Panchagarh: Tea worker Mohammad Sohrawardy, 22, died in Atwari upazila while returning from a tea garden. Two others were injured.
Natore: Farm labourer Samrat Hossain, 26, died in Singra upazila while transporting harvested paddy during rain.
Bogura: Farmer Suman, 35, died in Gabtali upazila while going to collect goats during a sudden downpour.
