Lightning strikes kill four farmers in Mymensingh, Naogaon while harvesting paddy

Victims in Nandail, Phulpur, Mohadevpur, and Niamatpur struck down during afternoon storms

Four people have died and two others seriously injured after lightning strikes hit them while harvesting paddy in Mymensingh and Naogaon.

The separate incidents occurred on Wednesday afternoon as pre-monsoon storms swept across the northern and central regions, police said.

In Mymensingh, 55-year-old Abdur Rashid died in Kharua Union of Nandail Upazila and Abdul Quddus, 45, in Phulpur Upazila

Nandail Police chief Azharul Islam said Rashid was harvesting paddy with his wife in his field near Rajabaria Bazar around 4:30pm when a sudden lightning strike injured him.

However, the woman was unharmed.

Rashid was declared dead after being taken to Nandail Upazila Health Complex, the police officer said.

Phulpur Police chief Md Firoz Hossain said seven people including Quddus were harvesting paddy in the Moishapuri Beel next to his house around 3pm.

When it started raining, five of them stopped working and went to safety, Firoz said, adding that Quddus and his eldest son continued the harvest until a thunderbolt struck him.

He died on the spot.

In Naogaon, two fatalities were reported in Mohadevpur and Niamatpur

Upazilas.

Dilip Chandra Barman, 45, was working on a paddy field in Barabila of Mohadevpur Upazila, according to Mohadevpur Police chief Omar Faruk.

Dilip died instantly after being struck by lightning, he said.

Two more farmers -- Jiban Barman, 22, and Narayan Barman, 45 -- were also injured at that time.

They were first taken to Mohadevpur Upazila Health Complex and then transferred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment, Faruk added.

Twenty-five-year-old Anukul Mahanta, a resident of Ramnagar village, died in Niamatpur Upazila, local police said.

He was working on a paddy field.