Severe Thunderstorms Claim Eleven Lives Across Seven Districts in Bangladesh

A series of violent electrical storms, accompanied by “Kalbaishakhi” (nor’wester) winds, has resulted in the deaths of at least eleven individuals across seven districts in Bangladesh. The casualties occurred throughout Wednesday, 29 April 2026, with Patuakhali district recording the highest toll of three fatalities. Other deaths were documented in Barguna, Jamalpur, Bagerhat, Gazipur, Rangpur, and Rajbari.

In addition to the fatalities, fifteen students in Barguna were hospitalised after suffering from the shock and acoustic impact of a nearby lightning strike during school hours.

Patuakhali: Three Fatalities During Agricultural Activities

In Patuakhali, the deaths involved individuals engaged in outdoor labour or the tending of livestock.

• Kalapara Upazila: At approximately 14:00, Setara Begum (55), wife of Badsha Hawlader of East Chakamaiya village, was struck whilst heading to an open field to graze cattle. Medical staff at Kalapara Upazila Health Complex confirmed she was admitted at 14:45 but had succumbed to heart failure triggered by the intensity of the strike.

• Chakamaiya Union: In a separate incident in Shantipur village, a farmer identified as Khalek Hawlader (55) died whilst attempting to retrieve his cattle from a field. Dr Humayun Hasan Suman of Amtali Upazila Health Complex stated that the victim’s body bore severe burns and he was deceased upon arrival.

• Rangabali Upazila: At 09:00, Saurav Majumder (22) was killed while grazing cows in Charganga village. Saurav, the son of Shah Alam Majumder, had become a father only one week prior to the incident. Md. Jashim Uddin, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Rangabali Police Station, confirmed the details of the youth’s death.

Barguna: Fatalities and Mass Illness Amongst Students

Barguna reported two deaths and a significant medical emergency involving schoolchildren.

• Individual Casualties: The deceased have been identified as Md. Nur Jamal (54) of Pujakhola village, and Al Amin (30), a fisherman from the Padma area in Patharghata.

• School Emergency: At midday, a lightning bolt struck the vicinity of the Phuljhuri School and College building in the Sadar Upazila. The resulting sonic boom and electrical discharge caused fifteen students to collapse or fall ill. Eight students remain under observation at Barguna Sadar Hospital, while seven others were discharged following primary care.

Jamalpur: Child Labourer and Fisherman Perish

Jamalpur recorded two fatalities in Islampur Upazila at different intervals on Wednesday morning.

• River Incident: Shamim Miah (30) went to the Dashani River at 05:30 to fish. At approximately 06:00, a lightning strike hit the water, causing him to vanish beneath the surface. His body was later recovered by family members.

• Construction Site: In the Sapdhari Union, a 13-year-old boy named Sagar Ali was killed at 10:00. Sagar, a child labourer from Dewanganj, was working on a road construction project under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). Sheikh Md. Abdul Wadud, Panel Chairman of the Union Parishad, noted that the boy was struck just as he was attempting to seek shelter from the rain.

Casualties in Rajbari, Bagerhat, Gazipur, and Rangpur

Single fatalities were reported in four further districts as the storm front moved across the country.

• Rajbari: At 06:45, Suman Mandal (35) was struck whilst walking to a shop with his five-year-old daughter, Safia, in his arms. The impact caused the child to be thrown from his grasp while Suman collapsed. Medical officers declared him dead on arrival. Safia survived with minor injuries.

• Bagerhat: Robin Hawlader (53), a day labourer in Sarkardanga village, was killed in the afternoon while retrieving cattle from a field. Inspector Shahidul Islam confirmed the death.

• Gazipur: Md. Zakir Hossain Khan (32), a fisherman, died in Baraiya village of Kaliganj whilst delivering fish to a friend’s house. OC Md. Zakir Hossain confirmed the fatality.

• Rangpur: In Taraganj Upazila, Sahera Begum died at 11:00 in Kajipara village. She was struck while moving her cattle from the courtyard to the shed.

The meteorological department continues to advise citizens to remain indoors during thunderstorms and to avoid contact with metal objects or open fields during electrical activity.