Six teenagers and young men were killed on the spot and two others critically injured when lightning struck while they were fishing and taking shelter during sudden rain in Pabna Sadar Upazila on Friday afternoon.
The incident occurred at around 5pm on Friday in Sonapatil Beel in Gobindapur village, near a bridge in Gopinathpur area under Malanchi Union of the upazila.
According to local sources and officials, the victims had gone fishing in the beel on Friday afternoon.
When sudden rain accompanied by a thunderstorm broke out, they started heading for home and took shelter inside a polythene-covered structure in the beel. Lightning struck the temporary shelter, killing six instantly.
At least two to three others sustained severe injuries. Local residents and authorities rescued the injured and rushed them to hospital. Police were immediately dispatched to the scene to recover the six bodies and transfer them to the police station.
Pabna Superintendent of Police (SP) Abu Ashraf confirmed the incident, mentioning that a police team was sent to the spot right after receiving the information and that further details would be released later.
Malanchi Union Parishad Chairman Kabir Hossain Babu confirmed to the media that all those who died were teenagers and young men.
“They took shelter inside a polythene-covered room during the thunderstorm where lightning struck. Six died on the spot, and we rescued the injured and sent them to hospital,” he said.
Earlier, Pabna Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Tariqul Islam also confirmed the casualties.
