More than 3,016 people, mostly villagers, farmers and fishermen, died from lightning strikes across the country in the last decade, according to media reports.
Most of the victims were killed by lightning strikes while they were working in open fields or fishing.
Bangladesh is prone to electrical storms, but this year lighting strikes are more severe. A rise in temperature and deforestation may be the reason behind the severity of lighting strikes, experts say.
At least 11 people, including a woman and her son, died and many others were injured in separate lightning strikes in different districts of the country on Saturday. The lightning strike has turned into one of the deadliest natural disasters in our country since 1981. About 90 percent of the victims were men. The death toll from lightning strikes is much higher than that of cyclones and tidal surges, landslides and floods.
Every year there is loss of lives as people lack awareness of lightning strike and precautionary measures as well.
Most of the victims were killed by
lightning strikes while they were
working in open fields or fishing
The entire Dhaka and Sylhet divisions, Bogura, Pabna, Sirajganj, Cumilla and Jashore are prone to thunderbolt. Lighting mainly happens in the afternoon, evening and even in the morning.
The incidents of lightning strikes are increasing across the country due to rising temperature and climate variability caused by global warming, taking heavy toll on human lives in recent years, experts say. About 70 percent of the total lightning strikes occur between April and June.
Though the country experiences lightning strikes during pre-monsoon period (April-May), climate change is contributing to its intensity. Rising temperature, erratic rainfall and unsual behaviour of weather are contributing to the recurrence of thunderbolt strikes.
Temperature in the country marked a rise this year which is the main cause for the rise in lighting strikes. People cannot resist thunderstorms, but minimise their losses by creating awareness about lightning.
Awareness programme should be launched in every corner of the country alongside all educational institutions. All should move with caution during the pre-monsoon period (April-May).
