Syed Shemul Parvez :
Victims of lightning strikes continue to surge across the country remaining the people specially farmers in serious panic.
In the last few years, the temperature in Bangladesh has increased by 0.74 degrees Celsius. Studies have shown that for every 1 degree Celsius increase in temperature, the number of lightning strikes can increase by up to 12%.
Prolonged heatwaves and increased humidity in the air are increasing the chances of lightning strikes.
Water from rivers and reservoirs evaporates and increases the humidity in the clouds, which creates a favorable environment for lightning strikes.
Experts said increasing impact of global warming and cutting down trees are the main reasons behind this incident.
At least 15 people, including farmers and schoolchildren, were killed in separate lightning strikes in nine districts on Monday, April 28.
In Cumilla, four people, including two schoolboys, were killed by lightning in Barura and Muradnagar upazilas of Cumilla district.
Witnesses said Fahad Hossain, 13, son of Khokon Mia of Poyalgaccha village and Saimon Hossain, 13, son of Abdul Barek, were killed when a streak of thunderbolt struck them while flying kites at noon in Barura upazila of the district.
Both of them were class VI students of Boroharipur High School.
In another incident, Nikhil Debnath, 64 and Jewel Bhuiyan, 30, son of Jashim Uddin Bhuiyan, were killed by lightning while working at their paddy fields at Korbanpur Purbapara in Muradnagar upazila of Cumilla district in the morning.
In Kishoreganj, three people were killed as lightning struck them in different places.
Witnesses said Fulesa Begum, 65, wife of Asrab Ali of Raniganj Kewarjor in Mithamoin upazila was killed by a thunderbolt while working outside her house at Shantiganj Haor around 8 am.
Besides, Indrajit Das, 36, son of Jatindra Das of Halalpur village, was killed when a thunderbolt struck him while working at a paddy field at Halalpur haor amid rain in the morning.
Meanwhile, Swadhin Mia, 14, son of Idris Mia of Khayerpur village in Astagram upazila was killed when a streak of thunderbolt struck him while cutting paddy at Khayerpur haor, said Ruhul Amin, officer-in-charge of Austagram Police Station.
In Netrokona, a youth named Didarul Islam, 28, was killed when lightning struck him on Sunday night.
In Sunamganj, a college student named Rimon Talukder died in a lightning strike in Burigangal Haor of Atgaon village in Shalla upazila of Sunamganj on Monday morning. Rimon was a resident of Atgaon village and a second-year student of Shalla Degree College.
In Habiganj, a paddy harvester named Durbasa Das, 35, was killed in a lightning strike in a haor of Baniachong upazila of Habiganj. Apart from this, 3 more people were injured in the incident.
Meanwhile, a child named Bayezid Mia, 13, son of Nurul Islam of Baghata village in the same upazila, was injured in the lightning strike. He was rescued and taken to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.
Habiganj District Relief and Disaster Management Officer Azadur Rahman said that the family of the deceased in the lightning strike will be given Tk 20,000 as assistance.
In Chandpur, a housewife named Bishakha Rani, 35, died after being struck by lightning in Kachua, Chandpur. The incident took place at 11 am yesterday in Nahara village of Uttar Union of the upazila. Bishakha is the wife of farmer Haripada Sarkar of the area.
In Moulvibazar, a tea worker named Makhon Rabi Das, 48, died after being struck by lightning while harvesting paddy in Sridharpur village of Uttar Shahbazpur Union of Barlekha upazila.
In Shariatpur, a woman named Sefali Begum, 35, died in a lightning strike in Bhedarganj upazila of Shariatpur.
The accident occurred on Monday afternoon in the Beparikandi area of Sakhipur union of the upazila. The deceased Sefali Begum is the wife of Sohrab Hossain Bepari of the area.
In Brahmanbaria, a farmer named Manik Mia, 65, was killed in a lightning strike while working on the land in Bancharampur. Hanif Mia, 60, who was with him was seriously injured.
In this regard, Dr Kabirul Bashar, teacher of Jahangirnagar University told The New Nation that they have identified two reasons behind the increase in lightning strikes: increasing impact of global warming and cutting down trees in rural areas of Bangladesh, especially tall trees in the fields.
Without trees, lightning strikes people in the field or in open spaces. Most people believe that it is better to take shelter under trees during storms, but it is wrong, he said, adding, people have to take shelter in houses or establishments.
To reduce the risk of death due to lightning quickly, he urges the government to plant fast-growing trees, in Bengal and Build multipurpose shelter centers, he further added.
Over the issue, Abdul Alim Head of Research Cell of Save the Society and Thunderstorm Awareness Forum (SSTF), requested the government to build shelters in the fields to save farmers from lightning strikes. It also urged the government to conduct a lightning awareness programme for four months from March to June.
