STAR REPORT

At least eight people were killed in lightning strikes in four districts yesterday.

Of them, three died in Cumilla’s Homna upazila, police said.

Homna Police Station Officer-in-Charge Rafiqul Islam said the incident occurred around 2:45pm in Ghagutia union.

Locals said several people were waiting for the Uzanchar–Ghagutia ferry when heavy rain began. Moments later, lightning struck the area, killing two women and one man on the spot.

The victims are Jakia Begum, 35, and Momtaz Begum, 30, of Nala Dakshin village, and an unidentified man in his forties from Khode Daudpur village. Several others were injured.

Homna Police Sub-inspector Jibon Biswas said police recovered the bodies and handed them over to the families.

Homna UNO Khemalika Chakma said the local administration is assisting the victims’ families with burial arrangements.

In Kurigram, two people were killed in lightning strikes in Nageshwari upazila.

The victims are Bablu Miah, 8, son of Noor Hossain of Kalikapur village, and Sahibur Rahman, 45, of Char Luchni village.

Sahibur was struck while cutting grass near his home around 10:00am, and Bablu was hit by lightning while returning home from madrasa around noon, said Nageshwari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Rezaul Karim, quoting locals.

In Jhenaidah, two farmers were killed in separate lightning strikes.

The deceased are Shimul Biswas, 38, of Armukhi village, and Hurmat Ali, 55, of Shekhra village.

Imran Zakaria, additional superintendent of police in Jhenaidah, confirmed the deaths.

In Narayanganj, a 13-year-old boy died after being struck by lightning in Araihazar upazila.

The victim, Md Wasim, son of Dila Mia of Ulukandi village, was a fifth grader at a local primary school.

His uncle Jahirul Islam said Wasim was inside a cowshed during the rain and was struck by lightning as he stepped outside.

Araihazar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khondoker Nasir Uddin confirmed the death.

[Our correspondents from Cumilla, Lalmonirhat, Narayanganj, and a correspondent from Jhenaidah contributed to this report.]