We must act to save people from growing concern of lightning

The number of both lightning and casualties has increased over the years due to climate change and global warming. The government recently decided to set up warning systems in 723 lightning-prone areas in the country, even though 2,800 people died in lightning strikes over the past decade. The government has planned to set up lightning shelters, like cyclone shelters, in empty spaces and send mobile messages before the lightning strike. We must act promptly to save people from natural disasters.
Farmers, fishermen and others who have to work in open spaces, especially on haors, usually become victims of lightning strikes. Experts said worldwide temperatures are increasing, which is one of the main reasons for increased incidents of lightning in Bangladesh. Other reasons include the lack of palm trees, betel nut trees, and coconut trees in rural areas, especially on roadsides, and the lack of arresters in buildings in urban areas. In December 2016, the government took the initiative to plant 38 lakh palm trees. However, as the trees died due to a lack of care and maintenance, the initiative came to no fruit.
According to disaster management and relief statistics, 2,328 people were killed in the last 10 years till 2020, of which the highest 359 people were killed in 2018. Around 10 haors – in Sunamganj, Habiganj, Kishoreganj, Netrakona, Sylhet, Chapainawabganj, Chattogram, Naogaon, Dinajpur and Sirajganj – are considered the top 10 areas with risk of lightning. Experts said two or three days before and after a cyclone are the riskiest times in terms of lightning. The government will have to identify those days as “lightning days” and will have to instruct people not to go onto fields during that time unless it is an emergency. The Met office can detect lightning a day before and should make people aware of it.
We need to plant palm, betel and coconut trees on the roadsides in rural areas to protect people from lightning strikes. The government will have to set up lightning arresters on top of every building in urban areas and this should be made mandatory for every building. We cannot stay nonchalance to the growing concern of lightning.