Staying safe from lightning strikes -

Deaths from lightning strikes were not uncommon in Bangladesh. But in recent years, the rate of such death has been rising alarmingly. According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, as many as 2,400 people died from lightning strikes in the country from 2011 to 2020. At least 216 people reportedly die every year on an average from this natural calamity, which is more than those from floods, cyclones, and others.

Farmers, fishermen and others who have to work in open spaces usually become victims of lightning strikes. According to experts, worldwide temperatures are increasing, which is one of the main reasons for increased incidents of lightning in Bangladesh. Other reasons include a lack of palm, betel nut and coconut trees in rural areas, especially on roadsides, and the lack of arresters in buildings in urban areas. It seems lightning strikes have become deadlier than ever before, especially as we continue to destroy the environment and most of our forests. Had we preserved out forests and tall trees, they would have absorbed many of the strikes and many of those who had lost their lives could have been saved.

The government has decided to plant plum trees across the haor regions where lightning strikes are more common than in other places. But besides that, the government should also launch awareness campaigns to warn people to remain cautious during thunderstorms.

Abu Elias Linkon,

Banasree, Dhaka,

lightening_sparkle@yahoo.com