Nature’s might: Lightning kills 5, injures 3 in Bangladesh

Four people were killed as they were working in rice paddies

They say lightning does not strike the same place twice. Even as that may be, it managed to kill no less than five people and injured three others in separate incidents in Sunamganj, a borderline district in north-eastern Bangladesh on Saturday.

Those killed by nature's wrath were identified as Abdul Jalil, 50, Harivokto Das, 45, Razu Miah, 20, Abdul Kader, 18, and Rasheda Begum, 31.

According to police and eyewitnesses, four people were killed as they were harvesting a paddy at the croplands during the morning in Dirai and Dharampasa areas when the thunderbolts killed them.

Read: Deadly weather: Two killed by lightning

Another victim of lightning, Rasheda was struck when she ventured outside the safety of her home to save her cattle in Kuna Kucha village, according to Mohammad Shahidullah, officer-in-charge of Tahirpur Police Station.

Those injured in the incident were then taken to Dirai Upazila health complex for treatment.

This, however, is not the worst incident of deaths by lightning in Bangladesh. In April 11, 2012, at least 13 people were killed and 15 others were hurt when lightning struck a mosque in a remote village in northeast Bangladesh during special Ramazan prayers, police said.

The mosque's imam was among those instantly killed when the lightning bolt hit the tin-and-thatch building at Saraswatipur village, about 200 kilometres (125 miles) from the capital Dhaka.

Read: Tragic incident: Girl killed as lightning strikes

The lightning appeared to “electrify” the mosque after hitting a rooftop microphone being run on power from a car battery, a local council member Abul Kalam said.

Lightning is a major threat in Sunamganj, home to some of Bangladesh’s biggest lakes. Most lightning strikes occur during the monsoon season between June and September when the district receives huge amounts of rainfall.

In May 2011, at least 29 people were killed – most of them farmers who were harvesting rice – and dozens injured when a series of lightning strikes hit several districts in a single day.

The story originally appeared on The Daily Star