64 killed by lightning across Bangladesh, reports say

DHAKA, Bangladesh — More than 60 people have been killed by lightning over the past two days during tropical storms across Bangladesh, local media said Saturday.

Most of the 64 lightning deaths since Thursday have occurred in rural Bangladesh, where farmers are busy with the current harvesting season, leading Bengali-language newspapers Prothom Alo and Samakal reported.

The reports of casualties could not be verified independently, with lightning deaths not usually monitored by government agencies.

Experts say increased deforestation and people’s exposure to metal equipment like cellphones are the reasons behind lightning deaths in Bangladesh. TVJ