17 killed as lightning strikes Chapainawabganj wedding party

At least 17 people were killed and six injured on Wednesday as lightning struck a boat carrying wedding party on river Padma in northern Chapainawabganj district.

Chapainawabganj deputy commissioner Manjurul Hafiz confirmed the news to media, saying that the incident happened in remote Shibganj upazila around noon.

Hafiz said a group of people were traveling by the boat to join a wedding party when it was hit by lightning.

“When our UNO (Upazila Nirbahi Officer) reached the spot, he found 13 bodies. Villagers told us relatives took away some others injured,” he said.

Shakib Al Rabbi, UNO of Shibganj upazila, said that 17 people died from the incident.

Among the six injured, four were sent Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

According to Non Government Organisation Foundation for Disaster Forum, at least 255 people were killed by lightning in Bangladesh until August 4 in 2021. The figure excludes Wednesday’s victims.