Lightning strikes kill 14 in a day as seasonal storms hit Bangladesh

At least ⁠14 people ⁠were killed after lightning ⁠strikes hit several parts of Bangladesh, officials said on Monday, as seasonal thunderstorms swept across the country.
The…

At least ⁠14 people ⁠were killed after lightning ⁠strikes hit several parts of Bangladesh, officials said on Monday, as seasonal thunderstorms swept across the country.

The deaths were ‌reported from several districts after sudden storms brought heavy rain and intense lightning on Sunday.

Most of the victims were farmers working in open fields and labourers caught in ⁠exposed areas, local authorities said. Several other people were ‌injured and taken to nearby hospitals, with some in critical condition.

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One of the victims was a 10-year-old boy, who was standing on a road outside his house with two others when the lightning struck, killing all three on the spot, the Prothom Alo reported. The lightning also killed a nearby cow.

A 22-year-old tea worker, who was struck by lightning while returning home after plucking tea leaves, had only been married for eight days, according to the Bangladeshi daily.

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The cases have been classified as unnatural death.

Vehicles make their way along a busy road during a rainfall in Dhaka. Photo: AFP
Vehicles make their way along a busy road during a rainfall in Dhaka. Photo: AFP