STAR REPORT

Five farmers were killed in separate lightning strikes in three districts yesterday, according to reports from our correspondent and a news agency.

Our Lalmonirhat correspondent reports, two farmers were killed in Lalmonirhat and Kurigram around noon.

The deceased were identified as Yusuf Ali, 38, of Kaliganj upazila in Lalmonirhat and Obaidul Haque, 54, of Nageshwari upazila of Kurigram.

Police said Yusuf had been working in his maize field since morning when the sky suddenly turned overcast. As rain began, a lightning strike hit him.

Meanwhile, Obaidul was harvesting boro paddy in his field when a sudden spell of rain accompanied by lightning struck the area. He was injured and later taken to Nageshwari Upazila Health Complex, where he was declared dead.

The incidents were confirmed by Kaliganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) Osman Goni and Nageshwari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Hil Zaman.

UNB adds, three farmers were killed in lightning strikes while harvesting paddy in Mahadebpur and Niamatpur upazilas in Naogaon in the afternoon.

Mahadebpur Police Station OC Omar Faruk said Dilip Chandra Barman was struck by lightning while working in cropland at Kurapara village.

In a separate incident, two more people were killed in the upazila, said Niamatpur Police Station OC Mahabubur Rahman.

Among them, Rafiqul Islam died on the spot after being hit by lightning while harvesting paddy in Hajinagar. He had come from Shibganj in Chapainawabganj to work as a labourer.

Another victim, Anukul Chandra Mohanta, was killed at Ramnagar in Chandan Nagar while bringing harvested paddy home.