Staff Reporter :
At least 246 people were killed by countrywide lightning strikes from February 1 to August 30 this year, while 97 people were injured.
Of the victims, 202 were men, 30 women, eight youths and six children.
Save the Society and Thunderstorm Awareness Forum published the report at a press conference held in its office in city’s Paltan “Resourceful City” on Sunday morning.
The data were gathered from local and national dailies and some online portal as well as television channels.
Most of them were killed at the time of harvesting paddy, fishing and cattle farming. Some of the victims died while sleeping in cottages and tin-sheet houses and under trees.
In February, at least 11 people were killed and eight others were injured by lightning strikes. Of them 10 were males and the other was female. Of the injured, four are males, two females and rest of them are youths.
In March, five people were killed. Of them three were males and two females. Of the injured three, two were children. In April, at least 20 people were killed and eight others were injured. Of them 17 were males, two females and one youth. Of the injured, seven were males and the other female.
In May, at least 60 people were killed. Of them 48 were males, 8 females, one child and three youths. Of the injured 24 people, 15 were males, 7 females and another two children.
In June, 66 people were killed and 18 others were injured by lightning strikes. Of them 11 were females, three children and another two youths. Of the injured, 12 were males, two females, three children and rest of them were youths.
In July, at least 47 people were killed. Of them 43 males and rest of them were females. Of the injured 25 people, 23 males and two females.
In August, 37 people were killed and 11 others injured. Of them 31 were males, four females. Of the injured, seven were males, two females, one child and rest of them were youths.
Satkhira, Kishoreganj, Pabna, Sunamganj, Cox’s-Bazar, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Tangail had more casualties.
Forum General Secretary Rashim Molla, Research Cell Executive Chief Abdul Alim, Vice-President Sohel Rana, among others, were present in the program.
