Lightning fears are increasing, claiming 300 lives a year

Although rains have brought some relief to various districts of the country after the intense heat wave, the fear of lightning has not subsided. According to the information from the Meteorological Department, the Disaster Ministry and the Disaster Forum, the maximum number of lightning incidents occur from April to July every year. Experts say that public awareness can play a major role in reducing lightning damage. Along with this, they also suggest increasing the use of cutting-edge technology in disaster-prone areas across the country to combat lightning.

The Meteorological Department and the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry have identified April, May, June and July as lightning-prone months according to the weather pattern. During these four months, a large number of people in Boro Abad do farming in Haor and other areas, taking the risk of natural disasters.

The Meteorological Office says that advance messages are sent to avoid disaster damage. Meteorologist Shahnaz Sultana said that alert messages are being sent regularly on mobile phones. Therefore, one should refrain from going out of the house unless it is extremely important. In addition, if there is a lot of lightning, everyone should stay in separate rooms instead of staying in the same room.

According to the information of the ‘Disaster Forum’, a non-governmental organization working on natural disasters, the number of deaths due to lightning in the country every year is on average 296. Of these, 70 percent are farmers. According to the organization, 4,157 people have died due to lightning in the 14 years from 2010 to 2024.

Disaster management experts believe that the risk of lightning is increasing due to environmental disasters and reduction in forest land. They are emphasizing the use of cutting-edge technology along with publicity campaigns to raise awareness.

However, the question is, how effective are text messages sent on mobile phones for farmers working in the field, as many are illiterate? Professor Mahbuba Nasreen of the Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies, Dhaka University, said that farmers in rural areas are suffering the most from lightning. Extensive publicity and campaigns should be carried out in lightning-prone areas. In addition, lightning arresters need to be made mandatory everywhere. The Disaster Management Department needs to be strengthened by increasing its manpower.

It is worth noting that in 2010, 123 people died due to lightning, and in 2020, 381 people died, which is more than three times. In 2024, this number will be close to three times. In the meantime, multiple lightning arresters have been installed in various places in Sunamganj, the most lightning-prone area of ​​the country, to reduce casualties.