Dr. Md. Shairul Mashreque :
Lighting in Bangladesh continues to wreck havoc in Bangladesh . Even then almost nobody is care about precautionary measures against it. Mass awareness is at low ebb. As far as I remember there was heavy down pour accompanied with thunders haw. Human casualties were much less in number than the casualties happening now-a-days. The villages were brimful with coconut and palm trees protecting villagers from the danger of lightning. Thundering now in a devastating manifestation take a heavy toll of lives due largely tp climate change. Atmosphere in the space is becoming heavy and hot with global warming as most climate expert opine. According Al-Jajira report
“At least 40 people have been killed by lightning strikes in Bangladesh within 24 hours as violent thunderstorms rumbled across the country.The Bangladesh Meteorological Department said the storms caused disruption across 14 districts including Dhaka. Their spokesman told DPAnews agency that most of the fatalities occurred due to a lack of awareness.Most of the deaths were reported in the capital. The northern districts of Rajshahi, Sirajgani and Pabna were also badly hit.Two 20-year-old students were killed during a football match in Dhaka’s Jatrabari neighboughhood. Eight others were injured as the lightning bolt struck the ground.The Hindu, a daily newspaper, reported that the casualties included a number of children who were playing in open grounds during the rain, but most of the victims were farmers working in their fields.The rains do help to break the intense heat experienced ahead of the monsoon rains. However, the downpours are often accompanied by thunder and lightning.Meteorologist Hafizur Rahman said “Bangladesh witnesses the seasonal northwestern storms every year from March to May”. They are most evident in the Rajsahi and Sylhet regions and are otherwise known as kalboishakhis.’Bangladesh’s Disaster Management Department has now launched a campaign for conscientizing people so that they remain inside during thunderstorms. Lightning kills around 300 people each year across the country.Another news report The experts say the absence of a ‘nowcasting system’ for urgent notices is one of the reasons behind so many deaths.Though meteorologists say thunderstorms are common in this season, they are also astonished at so many deaths Hot weather in April and May creates an atmosphere favourable for lightning strikes.He suggested giving repeated urgent notices during the nor’westers, especially in north-north west and south-west regions, to raise awareness.He said some recommendations on preparing a nowcasting system were made in 2012 to downsize the casualties from lightning strikes, despite confusion over its status as a disaster.
Department of Disaster Management (DDM) Director General Md Reaz Ahmed told bdnews24.com the department was concerned over so many deaths in a short span of time. Cumulonimbus is a dense towering vertical cloud associated with thunderstorms and atmospheric instability, forming from water vapour carried by powerful upward air currents.
My opinion is that government and civil societies should think to find a way out of this danger. Government should realize the gravity of the danger addressing the problem on both long term and short term basis. There needs to be tree plantation in villages worst affected by thundering. Use of mobile phone should be reduced. Mobile phone tower should be installed in open space like paddy field and near river. Or tall poll like tower may be installed with the system of earthling. As open space is hard-hit steps must be taken to install shelter building and to dig out concrete banker.
It is a season of downpour accompanied with thunders haw. Warning should be given to the members of the families living in house built with tin or bamboo. They should ot enjoy rainfall either from window side or going outside. Build sheltering house near kucca houses in the villages.
(Dr. Md. Shairul Mashreque teaches public administration in Chittagong University)
