Lightning strikes kill 9 in Sirajganj

Lightning strikes killed nine agricultural workers and injured four others in Ullapara of Sirajganj on Thursday, according to police.

Eight of the deceased were identified as Md Mobarak, 40, Monnaf Hossain, 19, Shamsher Ali, 62, Md Afsar, 63, Md Shahin, 21, Abdul Kuddus, 60, Shah Alam, 42 and Ritu Khatun, 15, Mohammad Mahfuz, assistant superintendent of police (ASP) of Ullapara Circle, said.

The identities of the other deceased could not be confirmed, he added.

The workers were planting paddy seedlings when it started to rain, said Ullapara Police Station OC Nazrul Islam,

“Then all of them sheltered in a house near the field. Suddenly a streak of lightning struck the men, killing five of them on the spot and leaving others critically injured,” Nazrul said.

“The locals rushed the injured to different hospitals and clinics where they died while undergoing treatment.”