At least 12 people were killed and over a dozen injured by lightning strikes across multiple districts on Saturday as nor `wester, locally known as Kalbaishakhi, swept through the country.

The fatalities were reported primarily among farmers and rural workers who were caught outdoors during the sudden afternoon thunderstorms. Five people died in Sunamganj, two each in Rangpur and Mymensingh, and one each in Netrokona and Habiganj.

In the northeastern district of Sunamganj, lightning strikes claimed five lives across four upazilas. In Dharmapasha, 22-year-old Habibur Rahman was killed while harvesting paddy in Chokiachapur village near Togar Haor wetlands, while 13-year-old Rahmat Ullah died and two of his family members were injured in a separate strike in Saraswatipur Islampur village.

In Dirai upazila, 38-year-old farmer Liton Mia was struck and killed while cutting paddy in the Kaliagota Haor, a death confirmed by Dr. Prashanta Das Talukder, resident medical officer at the local health complex.

Two other fatalities in the district involved Nur Mia, who was working at a duck farm in Jamalganj, and 28-year-old Abul Kalam, who was killed in Tahirpur upazila`s Gazipur village.

In the northern district of Rangpur, two men were killed and at least 12 others, including children, were injured by a lightning strike while fishing at a farm in Sakhipur village of Mithapukur upazila. The deceased were identified as 35-year-old Milon Mia and 65-year-old Abu Taleb.

Dr. MA Halim Lavlu of the Mithapukur Upazila Health Complex confirmed that both victims were brought in dead. Three of the injured remain in critical condition. Mithapukur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nuruzzaman said an unnatural death case was being filed regarding the incident.

In Netrokona, 65-year-old farmer Altu Mia from Hatiya village died after being struck by lightning while cutting grass for his cattle in the Meshir Haor wetlands of Atpara upazila.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Shahanur Rahman said the administration was contacting the victim`s family to provide financial assistance.

Details regarding the two deaths in Mymensingh and one in Habiganj were not immediately available.