Three Die in Netrokona Lightning Strikes

Three individuals have died after being struck by lightning while fishing in separate locations across Netrokona District in the early hours of Thursday. The incidents occurred in different water bodies within Madan Upazila and Kendua Upazila during light rainfall conditions, according to local residents and upazila administration sources.

The deceased have been identified as Rajib Mia (25) from Joypasha village under Kaitaill Union in Madan Upazila, Shamsul Huda (49) from Dekhle West Para village under Maskha Union in Kendua Upazila, and Ashraful Islam from a village near Sandikona canal, also in Kendua Upazila.

According to the Madan Police Station Officer-in-Charge, Md. Salah Uddin, Rajib Mia, who worked as a brick kiln labourer, was fishing in the Ganesh Haor area in front of his home at around 5:45 am when the lightning struck. Witnesses reported that a drizzle was ongoing at the time. He died on the spot after being struck.

In a separate incident occurring around the same time, Shamsul Huda, a cloth trader, went to fish in the Dewal Khal area of Murail Bill near his residence. He was struck by lightning and died instantly. Locals later discovered his body and informed his family, who subsequently recovered the remains.

Ashraful Islam also died after being struck by lightning while fishing near the Sandikona canal in his village. Details regarding the exact time of his death were not specified, but local reports confirm that he was found deceased at the scene.

Following the incidents, local administrative officials from both Madan and Kendua upazilas visited the affected areas. The Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) of Madan and Kendua stated that financial assistance would be provided to each bereaved family in accordance with government regulations. Each family is expected to receive 20,000 taka as immediate relief support.

District disaster management authorities from the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Netrokona confirmed that a total of 14 people have died due to lightning strikes across the district so far this year, highlighting the recurring nature of such weather-related incidents in rural and wetland fishing areas.

Victim Summary

The incidents occurred while all three individuals were engaged in fishing activities in nearby water bodies, a common livelihood and subsistence practice in the region’s haor and canal systems.