- At least 35 people, including women and children, died in Bangladesh after being struck by lightning during thundershowers in 14 districts, officials said on Friday.
- The lightning accompanying the seasonal northwestern storms claimed lives in Pabna, Sirajganj, Rajshahi, Kishoreganj and Brahmanbarhia districts and in Dhaka sudden thunderbolts killed two.
- The casualties included children playing in open grounds during the rain, but most victims were farmers, who were in their fields.
- Rains appeared after a heat wave scorched the country. Meteorologists said lightning kills up to 300 people on an average each year in Bangladesh.
(With inputs from PTI.)