Three killed as lightning strikes boat

A lightning strike killed three people and critically injured seven others on a boat in the Meghna river near Nolbata area of Narsingdi Sadar upazila yesterday evening.

The dead were identified as Farida Begum, 45, wife of Delwar Hossain, Rehena Begum, 35, wife of Chand Mia, and Selim Mia, 25, son of Mona Mia, of Alokbali village in the upazila.

Additional Superintendent of Police of Narsingdi Sadar Circle, Shahriar Alam, said a boat carrying passengers from Alokbali Char area of the upazila was going towards Narsingdi town across the river when the lightning struck. Selim Mia died on the spot and the nine others  were injured.

The injured were taken to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital, where Farida Begum and Rehena Begum were declared dead. At least three others were shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in the capital in critical conditions.