Lightning kills 2 in Chapainawabganj

A man and a woman died after being struck by lightning in the district’s Shibganj upazila on Thursday, police said, UNB reports.

The deceased were identified as Khairul Islam, 48, and Merina Begum, 37, both residents of Akhina in the upazila.

Chowdhury Zobair Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Shibganj Police Station, said the two were struck by lightning while they were collecting mangoes in heavy rains.

The two died on the spot, the OC said, adding a case of unnatural death has been filed in this connection.

Lightning strikes in Bangladesh

Lightning strikes are one of the deadliest natural disasters in Bangladesh, claiming over 200 lives every year.

According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, 2,164 people died in lightning strikes in the country from 2011 to 2020.

At least 216 people die every year on average in lightning strikes, more than by floods, cyclones and other calamities.

More than 70 per cent of the total lightning strikes occur between April and June, say experts.