Authorities have confirmed that at least 14 people were killed after lightning struck several parts of Bangladesh as seasonal thunderstorms swept across the country and several other people were injured and taken to nearby hospitals, with some in critical condition.
The deaths were reported from several districts after sudden storms brought heavy rain and intense lightning and most of the victims were farmers working in open fields and labourers caught in exposed areas.
Lightning kills hundreds of people every year in Bangladesh, which declared lightning strikes a natural disaster in 2016 after more than 200 people died in the month of May alone, including 82 people on a single day.
Weather Experts say the rise in fatal lightning strikes is linked to deforestation, which has led to the disappearance of many tall trees that previously helped draw lightning away from people.
Additional Reporting from Associated Press
