Urgent action needed to protect lives from lightning strikes

The deaths of 18 people in lightning strikes across 12 districts on Monday (April 28) have deeply shocked the entire nation. Images of the victims have been widely circulated in the media and on social platforms, leaving people stunned. One photo in particular—showing smoke rising from the body of a lightning strike victim—is especially harrowing and unbearable.

The death of so many people in a single day due to lightning strikes is extremely alarming. This trend of increasing lightning incidents has been observed in Bangladesh for quite some time. According to various reports, one-fourth of all lightning-related deaths worldwide occur in Bangladesh. But what is causing such a sharp rise in fatalities recently? On average, around 300 people die from lightning strikes in Bangladesh each year. According to the non-governmental organisation Disaster Forum, from 2010 to 2024, a total of 3,870 people have lost their lives due to lightning.

Experts say that Bangladesh is among the South Asian countries with a high frequency of lightning strikes. The primary reason for this is the country’s geographical location. On one side lies the Bay of Bengal, followed by the Indian Ocean, which brings in warm and humid air. On the other side, to the north, are hilly regions and the Himalayas, from where cold air enters the region. The collision of these two air masses creates ideal conditions for lightning.

In addition, experts note that the increased number of casualties is also due to the widespread deforestation over recent decades, as large trees that once acted as natural lightning conductors have been cut down.

Lightning is a devastating natural disaster, and ensuring safety and raising awareness are crucial to protect lives from its deadly impact. Certain precautionary measures can help safeguard individuals during lightning-prone periods. At the same time, it is vital for the government to take stronger actions to reduce the fatality rate. Unfortunately, despite recurring reports of numerous deaths each year, people remain largely unaware, and the government continues to fall short in implementing adequate safety measures.

In 2016, the Government of Bangladesh declared lightning a national disaster. To prevent deaths caused by lightning, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief initiated a nationwide project to plant one million palm saplings and distribute 3.5 million palm seeds. However, as reported in the media on Wednesday (April 30), the project was entirely unplanned, leading to a loss of nearly Tk 100 crore. Later, officials admitted that palm trees take 30 to 40 years to mature, making the initiative an impractical solution in their view.

Despite previous failures, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief implemented another project costing Tk 300 crore constructing lightning-protective concrete shelters with lightning rods in 23 lightning-prone districts of the haor region—without conducting any proper survey or feasibility study.

Moreover, in 2017, lightning detection sensors (LDS) were installed at eight locations across the country at a cost of Tk 68 crore. These sensors were intended to provide alerts about impending lightning strikes at least 15 minutes in advance, allowing residents to take shelter. However, in reality, the system failed to function as expected and did not deliver on its promise.

In 2023, the government introduced a new technology called High Impact Weather Assessment, but experts raised concerns about its effectiveness from the outset. The tragic deaths of 18 people on Monday serve as stark evidence of the failure of these government initiatives. To truly protect lives from lightning strikes, effective and well-planned measures are essential. At the same time, increasing public awareness is equally critical. People must also take personal responsibility by staying informed about lightning forecasts and taking immediate shelter when there is a risk. Preparedness—both institutional and individual—is the only way to reduce the death toll from this deadly natural threat.