At least five farmers, including a college student and a teenager were killed in separate lightning strikes across four upazilas of Sunamganj on Saturday afternoon.
The tragedies occurred as sudden storms swept through the haor (wetland) regions while workers were harvesting Boro paddy.
The deceased have been identified as Habibur Rahman (22) and Rahmat Ullah (13) of Dharmapasha, Nazmul Hossain (26) of Jamalganj, Abul Kalam (25) of Tahirpur and Liton Mia (38) of Dirai upazila.
According to police and local sources, the victims were working in open fields when the weather abruptly turned. In Tahirpur’s Matian Haor, Abul Kalam was struck while guarding ducks. In Dharmapasha’s Togar Haor, Habibur Rahman a student of Badshaganj Degree College died on the spot, while Rahmat Ullah was killed in a separate strike in Islampur village. Meanwhile, Liton Mia was struck while harvesting paddy in Kaliagota Haor in Dirai.
"The bodies are being handed over to their families following legal procedures" said Aminul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Tahirpur Police Station.
Local authorities have urged farmers to monitor weather forecasts and seek immediate shelter during storms to prevent further loss of life during this harvest season.
