Lightning strikes kill 14 in dists

At least 14 people were killed in lightning strikes in eight districts-Sirajganj, Magura, Noakhali, Brahmanbaria, Naogaon, Rangamati, Gazipur, and Sunamganj- on Sunday, report agencies.
In Sirajganj, five people, including father and son, were killed in lightning strikes in Kazipur, Sahajadpur and Kamarkhanda upazilas.
In Magura, three people were killed as lightning struck them in Sadar and Shalikha upazilas.
In Noakhali, Iqbal Hasnat Pial, a class five student, sustained injuries when a thunderbolt struck him in a field at Laxminarayanpur around 11.30 am. He was playing with his friends when the incident took place. Pial, 12, son of Sohel Rana Jaglu, was rushed to Noakhali General Hospital where doctors declared him dead.
In Brahmanbaria, Abdur Rahim, 40, a farmer, died on the spot as he was hit by a lightning strike while harvesting crops in a field at Doroin village in Akhaura upazila Sunday morning, said officer-in-charge of Akhaura police station Mosarrof Hossain.
In Naogaon, a lightning hit housewife Sonavan, 24, wife of Rubel Hossain, resident of Sapahar upazila. She died on the spot.
In Gazipur, garments worker Jafrul Islam, 20, died on the spot in the Matikata area under Kaliakoir upazila as thunderbolt struck him.
In Rangamati, Mansura Begum, 35, of Baghaichhari upazila, was killed in a lightning strike while she was bringing back home her cattle from field around 10 am, police said.
Meanwhile, a storm and several hours of rain have caused waterlogging and traffic congestion on many city roads.

The storm swept in to the capital around 8am, darkening the skies. According to the Weather Office, the highest recorded wind speed during the storm was 73km/hr. A total of 50mm of rain was recorded in the city between 6am and 9am.
Various areas of the capital, including both sides of the road from Mirpur-10 to Mirpur-13, section 14, Shaorapara, Ibrahimpur and Kachukhet, were flooded by the rain.

Contrary to the authority's assurance that there will be no waterlogging in Dhaka city this year, the Kalshi Road near Mirpur Section 11 remaining under knee-to-waist deep water following heavy downpour Sunday morning — FE photo by KAZ Sumon