(BSS) - Six people, including a child were killed and two others injured in a lightning strike at a beel in Pabna Sadar Upazila this afternoon.

The incident occurred at Sonapatir Beel in Malanchi Union of the upazila.

The deceased were identified as Shawon, 24, son of Robiul Islam of Gazmatikunda area; Robbel Molla, 20, son of Ismail Molla of Nalmora area; Mizanur Rahman, 10, son of Shajahan Pramanik and Sajid, 14, son of Nazim Uddin.

All four were residents of Malanchi Union. The identities of the other two victims could not be confirmed immediately.

According to local residents and police, a group of people from different areas went to the beel to catch fish in the afternoon. As rain began, eight of them took shelter in a makeshift hut there.

At one stage, lightning struck the hut, killing six people on the spot and seriously injuring two others.

They remained inside the hut for some time before people from nearby areas spotted them later in the evening. The injured were rescued and taken to hospital.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Pabna Sadar Police Station Tarikul Islam confirmed the incident, saying the spot was in a remote area. Police had been sent to the scene and efforts were underway to recover the bodies.