A.F.M. Asad Ullah: Two sand workers have died in a lightning strike in the Chelandi river in Doarabazar, Sunamganj. The deceased are Jewel Ahmed (19), son of the late Amir Ali of Companyganj Upazila in Sylhet, and Afiz Ali (45), son of the late Mazammil Ali of Chatibahar Tilapara area of Telikhal Union.
One person is missing. The missing sand worker is Rubel Mia (22), son of the late Mashuk Mia of Kathal Bari area.
The incident took place at 2:30 am on Saturday in the Chelandi river of Narsingpur Union of the upazila. Officer-in-Charge of Doarabazar Police Station, Zahidul Haque, confirmed the matter in a press release on Saturday afternoon.
Police and local eyewitness sources said. They had rented a boat to lift sand in the Chela River on Friday night. When it rained around 2:30 am, the workers in the boat were struck by lightning. Later, other colleagues received information and rescued the two from the scene and took them to the Companyganj Upazila Health Complex in Sylhet, where the doctor on duty declared them dead. Another sand worker went missing.
Upon receiving the news of the incident, a diving team of the Fire Service conducted a day-long rescue operation on Saturday morning but could not rescue the missing worker. SI Abdul Jalil, ASI Farhad Hossain and the accompanying force of Doarabazar Police Station visited the scene that afternoon.
