Mother and child among lightning victims

Five people, including a mother and her four-year-old child, were killed by lightning during rainstorms in northern Bangladesh, police said today.

The deaths occurred on Sunday in Rangpur district, 155 miles north of the capital, Dhaka, a local officer said.

One of the victims, Zaheda Khatoon, 30, went out in the rain with her child clinging to her chest to bring a grazing goat back home when lighting struck and killed them at Kurialpara village.

Three farmers died when they were leaving a rice field to flee the heavy rains at neighbouring Bhangapara village, the officer said.