Deadly thunderstorms, lightning kill 14 in Bangladesh as seasonal storms intensify
At least 14 people have been killed after lightning strikes hit multiple areas across Bangladesh amid intense seasonal thunderstorms, officials said on Monday.
The fatalities were reported in several regions as sudden storms brought heavy rainfall and powerful lightning. Most of the victims were farmers working in open fields and laborers caught in exposed areas, according to local authorities.
Several others were injured in the incidents, with some reported to be in critical condition after being transferred to nearby hospitals.
Experts have linked the rising number of lightning-related deaths in Bangladesh to widespread deforestation, which has reduced the number of tall trees that once acted as natural lightning conductors, offering some protection to people in rural areas.
Lightning fatalities are common during the pre-monsoon period between April and June, when high temperatures and humidity create unstable atmospheric conditions that increase the likelihood of severe thunderstorms.
