OUR CORRESPONDENT, Pabna

At least nine people, including two minors, were killed and four others injured by a lightning strike while they were on a paddy field in Sirajganj’s Ullapara upazila yesterday.

The incident occurred in Matikora village of the upazila’s Ponchokrashi union around 5:00pm.

Of the dead, eight were identified as Abdul Kuddus, 60, Shahin Hossain, 50, Mostofa, 55, Afsar, 52, Mofazzal Hossain, 60, Monnaf, 50, Ritu Khatun, 13, and five-year-old Awlia.

Apart from Ritu and Awlia, all were farmers working on the field when the lightning struck.

Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Ullapara Police Station, said at least 15 people were collecting Aman seedlings at that time.

Eight of them died on the spot and five others were injured. Of the injured, one died on the way to the upazila health complex, the OC added.

Talking to The Daily Star, Firoz Uddin, union parishad chairman, said it was tragic that so many poor farmers died trying to make a living.

“Their death is a huge loss for the whole village.”