Staff Reporter :
A recent report by the voluntary organization Save the Society and Thunderstorm Awareness Forum (SSTF) paints a grim picture of lightning deaths in Bangladesh.
According to the SSTF, lightning strikes have tragically claimed 74 lives across the country in just the past 38 days. Worryingly, 35 of the victims were farmers working in their fields.
The data reveals a particularly deadly month of May, with 11 lightning fatalities occurring in a single day.
A closer look at the figures shows 31 deaths from lightning strikes in April, with a near even split between genders (20 male, 11 female). The current month of May has already seen 43 deaths, with a slight majority of males (34) affected compared to females (9).
The SSTF urges the government to take immediate action to address this public safety crisis. Their recommendations include building shelters in fields to provide safe havens for farmers during storms. Implementing a lightning awareness program specifically targeted at the vulnerable period between March and June.
The SSTF has also taken proactive steps by conducting awareness campaigns in various districts, reaching over 2,500 farmers with vital safety information.
Key safety tips include seeking immediate shelter in a safe building upon noticing dark clouds, avoiding taking shelter under trees during storms, wearing shoes while working outdoors and lying flat on the ground if caught in the open field during a lightning strike.
Dr. Kabirul Bashar, president of the SSTF, attributes the rise in lightning strikes to two main factors, the increasing impact of global warming and the alarming rate of deforestation, particularly the removal of tall trees in rural areas.
Dr. Bashar emphasizes the importance of seeking shelter in proper buildings during storms, dispelling the misconception that trees offer protection.