At least 74 people were killed by lightning strikes over the last 38 days, including 43 people alone in the past eight days across the country, said a report on Thursday.
Of the total dead, 35 were farmers, according to the report prepared by voluntary organisation Save the Society and Thunderstorm Awareness Forum (SSTAF).
According to SSTAF report, 31 people were killed by lightning strikes in the month of April with 20 males and 11 female.
This month, 43 people were killed by lightning till May 8. Of them, 34 were male and nine female. In a single day in this month 11 people died and nine people were injured, said the report of the SSTAF research cell.
Besides, the members of the organisation also highlighted how farmers can keep themselves safe in case of lightning.
Members of the organisation recently visited Manikganj's Singair, Munshiganj's Sirajdikhan, Dhaka's Nawabganj and Keraniganj upazila and conducted lightning awareness activities among farmers working in the field after making groups of 500 farmers each.
SSTAF urged the government to conduct a lightning awareness programmes for four months from March to June. The organisation also offered advice to the farmers.
These included--take shelter in a safe place as soon as possible after seeing dark clouds in the sky, refrain from taking shelter under trees during rain, wear shoes while working under the open sky, lie down while working in the field during lightning strikes.
Prof Kabirul Bashar, president of the forum, said the government can take initiatives, including setting up lightning arresters in the haor region and opening areas.
He blamed global warming and cutting down trees for the increase in lightning strikes.
According to him, installing lightning arresters in the traditional way can prevent casualties due to lightning. It costs less. And the government can take the initiative to plant them in haor and open places.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
