Lightning: A budding concern in Bangladesh

Natural disasters have a detrimental effect on human socio-economic conditions. A recent study has found that natural disasters are more common in developing countries than in developed ones due to their geographical location, geological structure, and lack of technological facilities.

Being a developing country, all the terrible natural disasters are happening every year in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has a long history of being hit by natural disasters. During a natural disaster, people have nothing to do but helpless surrender.

Natural disasters cause great loss of life and property. Different types of disasters are constantly disrupting public life in different parts of the world at different times. Cyclones and tidal surges are once said to be the biggest natural disasters in Bangladesh.

However, lightning or thunderstorms have appeared with great horror at present, which would not be wrong to describe it as a natural disaster. Every year in a certain period there is a danger of massive thunderstorms or lightning.

There is no substitute for precaution to get rid of the extensive damage caused by thunderstorms or lightning. Every day when the page of the newspaper is opened, the news of casualties by lightning catches our eyes.

The death toll from thunderstorms and lightning has increased in Bangladesh recently. Climate experts from their research have commented that Bangladesh has experienced 40 thunderstorms in one per sq. kilometer. The country is one of the most thunder-prone areas in the world.

The reason for this abnormality is the increase of black clouds in the atmosphere. Scientists are blaming the increase in the amount of nitrogen and sulfur in the air behind the formation of black clouds.

At the government level, data provided by the Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management, various NGOs and the media shows that more than 3,000 people have been killed in lightning strikes across the country in the last five years. The trend has been steadily increasing since 2011.

There have been reports of 351 deaths in 2016 and 262 deaths in 2017, 57 deaths up to April 2018, 16 deaths up to May 2021 and more than 400 injuries are mostly in rural areas. On average, more than 250 people die every year in Bangladesh due to lightning.

According to the Disaster Management Department, BUET, Disaster Forum, media, and other sources, more than 2,000 people have been killed in lightning strikes from 2010 to 2019. According to analysts, climate change and global warming are the main causes of frequent thunderstorms.

There is a correlation between temperature rise and lightning. Studies have shown that lightning increases tenfold for a one-degree increase in temperature. Although the incidence of lightning is high in Bangladesh from March to June every year, the continuous rise in temperature is affecting the entire monsoon season throughout the year.

Many people have no scientific idea about lightning. Lightning strikes occur when excess electrical charge accumulates in the clouds of the sky and falls to the ground with a loud noise, combined with the opposite charge, and becomes inactive.

Due to the imbalance of the atmosphere and global warming, the atmosphere heats up and comes in contact with water vapor, which turns into ion particles and increases the rate of lightning. It is estimated that the number of deaths due to lightning is higher in rural areas than in urban areas.

The main reason for this is the ignorance and unawareness of the villagers about lightning. They have no idea when, how and why lightning strikes. They are indifferent about the weather forecast.

Although black clouds are scattered in the dark sky all around, farmers and fishermen can be seen running in the fields or rivers with agricultural equipment or fishing nets. They are not afraid of lightning which is helping to increase the number of deaths caused by lightning.

This is the eternal truth, there is no way to control the natural anger of human beings, but it is possible to get some relief from this terrible disaster by taking some precautions. The first step in protecting yourself from lightning is to control global warming. Regular plantation of trees is needed to prevent air and environmental pollution. Keep the mentality of planting at least five saplings against each tree when cutting trees for special purposes. Therefore, it is expected that the number of deaths due to lightning in the next generation will be greatly reduced. In the rural areas of the country, farmers need to be extra careful when working in open spaces during sudden storms and such weather.

When lightning strikes they should go to a safe place instead of an open place. Mobile phones should be kept away. All electrical appliances including televisions, refrigerators, ACs need to be quickly disconnected from the electrical connection during staying at home. Many take refuge under trees during lightning strikes but they do not know that this place is not safe for them. We shouldn’t take shelter under a tree during a thunderstorm.

The metal grill used on the porch of the house should be avoided from touching. If metal pipes are used in the line of water taps in the kitchen or toilet, they have to be done through the walls. It is best to ask children to keep their ears closed with both hands when lightning strikes because it will protect children from hearing problems and relieve stress and fear. Before going out, farmers, fishermen, and other people need to know about the weather forecast announced by the Meteorological Department.

Betel, coconut, date, or palm trees can be planted in villages or towns, behind houses, on both sides of roads, by ponds or in open spaces; Because according to meteorologists, these tall trees protect from lightning. A couple of years ago, the government planted one million date palms across the country which is really commendable.

Pumps, palms, and other tall trees that were abundant in the village were used to absorb electricity produced from lightening but now that these trees have dwindled, the death toll from lightning has also increased.

It may be mentioned that appropriate measures are being taken by the government to reduce the amount of lightning. Disaster Management Department officials have already received training from Vietnam. Various sensors have also been brought from the United States to reduce lightning, which is still awaiting implementation.

According to experts in Bangladesh, the level of lightning has increased significantly due to the decline of palm and large trees in rural areas. A significant amount of trees are being planted during the tree planting season every year which will play a significant role in reducing the damage.

We need to plant trees to protect the environment so that we can be relatively safe. The issue of lighting should also be taken seriously. Natural disasters are people’s daily companions. People survive in the midst of various disasters, dreaming of survival. Natural disasters make people struggling.

Makama Mahmud Chowdhury studies at the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology.