RANGPUR — Two people were killed and nine others injured when lightning struck villagers gathered near a fishing pond in Sakhipur village of Boro Hazratpur union in Mithapukur upazila on Saturday morning, police and hospital officials said.
The dead were identified as Milon Mia, 35, a fisherman, and Taleb Uddin, 45, a farmer, both from the area.
Local union council chairman Abdul Matin said it had been raining in the area when fishermen were catching fish in the Choto Shalmara wetland. Fifteen to 20 people, including children, had gathered to watch. Another man was clearing water hyacinth from a nearby pond. Lightning struck during the rain, injuring at least 11 people on the spot, including three children.
The injured were taken to Mithapukur Health Complex, where Milon and Taleb died while undergoing treatment, officials said. Taleb was clearing the pond at the time of the strike.
Dr. Mizanur Rahman, the resident medical officer at the Mithapukur Upazila Health Complex, said the two men were already dead when brought to the hospital. He said three of the injured were children between 7 and 12 years old and that the wounded had been referred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for better treatment.
Mithapukur police station chief Nuruzzaman said officers and firefighters had reached the scene as soon as they were notified. The injured were being treated in Mithapukur and Rangpur, he said. “The incident is very tragic. People across the area are stunned with grief,” he said.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report