A farmer was killed and three others injured after being struck by lightning while collecting harvested rice in Khoksa upazila of Kushtia.
The deceased, Hazrat Ali, was attacked on Monday evening in Joyanti Hajra village of Joyanti Hajra Union.
His family rescued him and rushed him to the upazila health complex emergency department, where doctors declared him dead. Hazrat Ali was the son of the late Akkel Ali of the same village.
At the same time, a schoolgirl and two women were also struck by lightning in different locations.
The injured are Antara, 10, a fourth-grade student from Kalishangkarpur in Shimulia Union; Dolly Khatun, 20, wife of Anis Molla of Biljani village; and Soma Parvin, 25, wife of Rubel Hossain of Haludbaria village near the Khoksa-Pangsha border.
All three were admitted to Khoksa Upazila Health Complex with serious injuries.
Speaking to reporters, the farmer’s nephew Bappi said Hazrat Ali went to the field in the afternoon to collect the harvested rice after seeing dark clouds. Rain accompanied by lightning started while he was working.
Hazrat Ali lost consciousness and fell to the ground. Despite being rushed to the health complex, he was declared dead. He leaves behind two young children.
Sharmin Akter Rima, a doctor in the emergency department, said the farmer had died before arriving at the hospital.
