<div style="text-align: justify; "><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">At least five people were killed by lightning strikes in Rangamati and Cox’s Bazar districts on Thursday.</span><br></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In Rangamati, three people were killed and seven others injured when thunderbolts struck them in separate places in the morning.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The deceased were identified as Najir Ahmed, 50, a resident of Sylheti Para in Rangamati district town, Baharjan Begum, 55, wife of Lal Mia of Baghaichari upazila and Tripura Grihini, 37 of Sajek.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dr Shawkat Akbar Khan, resident medical officer of Rangamati General Hospital, said Najir Ahmed died on the spot when a thunder bolt struck him while he was catching fish at Kaptai Lake in the morning.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, Baharjan was killed by the lightning strike while bringing cattle from the field amid rain, said Jasmin Chakma, chairman of Rupkari union.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A goat also died during lightning.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the other hand, Tripura Grihini was killed when a streak of thunderbolt hit him while she working at her yard in Sajek’s Longthianpara.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shirin Akter, Baghaichhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), said two people—Baharjan and Tripura died in the upazila and Tk 10,000 each was provided to the family members of the deceased.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seven people were also injured during lightning strikes in different parts of the district.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In Cox’s Bazar, two workers were killed as a thunderbolt struck them in separate places at Chhari Para in Pekua upazila of Cox’s Bazar district early Thursday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The deceased were identified as Didarul Islam, 35, son of Jamir and Md Arman, 25, son of Jamal of the upazila.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yunus Chowdhury, chairman of Magnama union, said Didar died on the spot when a streak of thunderbolt struck him while he was working at the salt field at Kodailladiya early in this morning.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, Arman was hit by lightning strike and died on the spot when he was working in the early morning, said Rajakhali Union chairman Nazrul Islam Shikdar.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lightning strikes kill 250 people on an average every year in the country, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Thunderbolts also kill or injure a large number of livestocks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lightning strikes mostly occur in from April to May till June and most of the deaths occur in flat lands and haor areas, reports UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, 2,164 people died in lightning strikes in the country from 2011 to 2020. Considering the upward trend, the government in 2016 declared it as a national disaster.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd/fas</div>