Lightning strike kills 3 schoolgirls, farmer in Kishoreganj

Three schoolgirls and a farmer were killed in two separate lightning strikes in pakundia and Mithamoin upazilas of the district on Tuesday.

The deceased are Irina, 15, daughter of Jalal Uddin, Priya, 15, daughter of Badal Mia and Barsha, 15, daughter of Borhan Uddin, residents of Charteki village under Pakundia upazila. They all are students of class nine of Charteki Girls School and College. Another deceased was Kadu Mia, 35, son of Motaleb Mia, a farmer of Chamakpur Dakshin Hati under Ghagra union of Mithamoin upazila.

Thunderbolt struck the three schoolgirls when they were returning home from school amid a stormy weather at 12 noon.

Later, they were rescued and taken to Pakundia Upazila Health Complex where the on-duty doctor declared Irina and Priya dead. 

"Barsha also died while undergoing treatment at the hospital," said Md. Sakhawat Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Pakundia Police Station.

Besides, farmer Kadu Mia was injured in a lightning strike while working on a paddy field in Chamkpur Dakshin Hati area this afternoon. 

He was rescued and taken to Mithamoin Upazila Health Complex where the on-duty doctor declared him dead, said Md. Shafiul Alam, OC of Mithamoin Police Station.