Lightning strikes kill 3 in Chapainawabganj

At least three people including two of the same family were killed by lightning strikes in separate places in Chapainawabganj Friday afternoon, reports UNB.

The incidents occurred in the afternoon during thunderstorms.

The deceased are Annie Begum, 26, wife of Rana Ali of Panchrashia village of Sadar upazila’s Sundarpur union, her son Nur Mohammad, 6, and Yamin Arafat, 10, son of Abdul Matin of Bakhar Ali village of Charbagdanga union.

Sundarpur union parishad chairman Habibur Rahman said the mother and son went to collect mangoes near their house during the storm in the afternoon. They died on the spot when lightning struck.

Charbagdanga union parishad member Hossain Ali Jhatu said Yamin Arafat was struck by lightning while collecting mangoes in a garden during a storm.

Sadar upazila project implementation officer Moudud Alam Khan said he was informed of the deaths by local representatives.

The families would get financial assistance from the government fund, he said.

Lightning strikes claim hundreds of lives in Bangladesh every year. The deaths mostly occur in the warmer period of the year from April to June, as hailstorms occur most frequently during this time.

The ministry of disaster management and relief in a guideline says lightning usually continues for 30-45 minutes and urged people to stay indoors or take cover during the period.