Six people have died in lightning strikes in three southeastern districts – two in Cox’s Bazar, three in Rangamati, and one in Khagrachhari.

The incidents occurred from dawn until noon on Thursday.

COX’S BAZAR

Two salt farmers died when lightning struck them in Cox’s Bazar’s Pekua as they were trying to protect their salt from the rain.

The dead were identified as Md Didar Hossain, 25, from Magnama Union, and Arafatur Rahman, 13, from Rajakhali Union.

It had been drizzling in Pekua with intermittent lightning strikes from early on Thursday, said Md Saiful Islam Joy, Pekua Upazila executive officer, citing locals.

Didar and two to three members of his family were trying to cover the salt in the fields with polythene bags when he was struck by lightning and killed on the spot.

Arafatur had also gone to the fields with his family to complete the same task around the same time when he was struck dead by lightning.

The families took their bodies home, the Pekua Upazila UNO said.

RANGAMATI

Three people died and at least seven others were injured in lightning strikes in Rangamati Sadar and Baghaichhari Upazila.

The dead were identified as 50-year-old Md Nazir, from the district town’s Sylhet Para, 55-year-old Baharjan Begum and 37-year-old Tanibala Tripura from Baghaichhari.

Baharjan Begum from the Muslim Block area of Ward-7 had gone to get the cows when the lightning struck, said Rupakari Union Parishad Chairman Jasmin Chakma.

“We had rain and lightning after many days,” said Shirin Akhtar, the Baghaichhari Upazila executive officer. “A woman named Baharjan from Rupakari Union and another woman named Tanibala Tripura died.”

The Upazila administration has given their families Tk 10,000 in compensation, the UNO said.

Seven others were chatting at a tea stall in the Upazila when lightning struck nearby around 9:30am, she said.

Dr Shawkat Akbar of Rangamati General Hospital said a man named Nazir, who had been killed in a lightning strike, was brought to the hospital from the Sylhet Para area on Thursday morning.

KHAGRACHHARI

A young man was killed while trying to pick mangoes in the rain in Khagrachhari’s Matiranga Upazila.

The deceased, Yasin Arafat, is the son of Yusuf Mia from Ibrahim Para in Ward No. 9 of Baranal Union.

Two brothers went to pick mangoes near the front yard of their house, said Mohammad Ilias Hossain, the chairman of Baranal Union Parishad, citing locals. A sudden lightning strike killed the elder brother Yasin on the spot.

Financial support will be provided to the victim’s family, said Daisy Chakrabarty, the Matiranga UNO.