Thirteen killed in lightning strikes

At least 13 people were killed in separate lightning strikes on Sunday as most of the victims were working in fields during thunderstorms that swept different parts of the country.

Of the victims, five people died in Sunamganj, two each in Rangpur and Mymensingh, and one each in Habiganj, Netrakona, Lalmonirhat and Kishoreganj, according to local police stations and hospital sources.

In Sunamganj, five farmers lost their lives across four upazilas. Habibur Rahman died while harvesting paddy in Togar Haor of Dharmapasha upazila, while Rahmat Ullah was killed while drying paddy beside his home in the same area.

In Jamalganj upazila, Nuruzzaman died in Pagnar Haor, and in Tahirpur upazila, Abul Kalam and Liton Miah were struck while working in Matian Haor and Kaliagota Haor respectively.

Mymensingh district recorded two deaths: Rahmat Ali Ujjal, 30, of Gouripur, died while harvesting paddy, and Momtaz Ali Khan, 58, of Gafargaon upazila, was killed while returning home after Zohr prayers.

In Rangpur's Mithapukur upazila, a sudden storm claimed two lives: farmer Taleb Uddin, 60, and fisherman Milon Islam, 42, both from Boro Hazratpur Sakhipur.

Locals rushed them to Mithapukur Upazila Health Complex, where doctors pronounced them dead on arrival.

Other victims included Sunam Uddin, 60, of Habiganj, killed while harvesting in Momina Haor; Altu Mia, 65, a farmer from Netrokona's Atpara upazila, who died while cutting grass for cattle in Meshir Haor; Halud Mia, 37, of Kishoreganj's Karimganj upazila, struck while working in a large haor; and Abdar Hossain, 55, killed in Lalmonirhat's Aditmari upazila while working in a paddy field.

Meanwhile, rain and thunderstorms brought significant relief to residents in Dhaka and other parts of the country on Sunday afternoon following several days of severe to mild heatwave conditions.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, dark clouds gathered over the capital on Sunday afternoon before strong winds and steady rainfall set in, easing heat stress that had persisted for over a week.

The storm began around 4:45pm, with heavy downpours and thunder reported in several areas, including Bangla Motor, Karwan Bazar, Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Hatirjheel, Rampura and Badda area. Temperatures dropped noticeably as the rain swept across the city.

The BMD said rain or thunder showers accompanied by gusty winds and lightning flashes occurred in several divisions, including Rangpur, Mymensingh, Sylhet and Dhaka, bringing a marked fall in both daytime and nighttime temperatures.

The weather office forecast continued rainfall over the next 48 to 96 hours, warning of Kalbaishakhi storms (nor'westers) with wind speeds of 60-80 km/h or higher in Dhaka and other divisions, along with heavy to very heavy rainfall in Mymensingh, Sylhet and northern regions.

Meteorologists said the current system signals the onset of the pre-monsoon phase, with active weather likely to persist across the country until May 7.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com