Deaths from lightning strikes, especially in the season of Nor’westers, have been a common phenomenon in Bangladesh for ages. Lightning reportedly left 70 people dead across Bangladesh in April and the fatalities are feared to rise in June-July period.
It is said that deaths from lightning strikes have been on the rise mainly due to lack of awareness whereas many deaths could be avoided if the metrological department effectively broadcast early warnings on looming thunderbolt.
Hence, the Met office should effectively broadest early warnings on thunderbolt, especially in the season of Nor’westers.
Experts are of the opinion that lightning will strike far more frequently in a world under climate change, but researchers can still not predict exactly where or when those strikes will occur.
Metrological department should effectively broadest
early warnings on looming thunderbolt, especially
in the season of Nor'westers.
In a troubling survey, it has been found that around 1,600 people were killed in 5,878 lightning incidents in the country over the past six years as disclosed by Disaster Forum, a Dhaka-based network on disaster preparedness and risk reduction.
It is said that the exact number of casualties from lightning could be much higher as many cases go unreported. Meteorological department claimed that thunderbolt warnings are issued regularly, but people are not aware of those alerts.
In this circumstance, awareness building at individual and community levels has become crucial in order to bring down the number of deaths and injuries from lightning. Hence, running warning campaign in order make people conscious about thunderbolts has become very much pertinent.
In this regard, community radio can play a crucial role. Given the risk or dangers of thunderstorm that are supposed to loom large in the coming monsoon, we suggest people to stay away from tall trees, electric poles and towers, and take shelter under a concrete ceiling during thunderbolt and follow the basic anti-lighting strikes rules.
As a long-term initiative, tree plantation can help develop a natural canopy against storms and thunderbolts.