Staff Reporter :
At least 126 people were killed and 53 others injured in lightning strikes across the country in May and June this year, according to data compiled by a non-government organisation ‘Save the Society and Thunderstorm Awareness Forum.
It was prepared based on at least 10 local and national dailies, some online portals and televisions, the report said.
The highest number of deaths was reported in Kishoreganj with 16 deaths.
In the month of May, 60 people were killed including nine women and three children. The month also saw 28 people injured in the strikes.
In June, 66 people were lethally struck by lightning. There were 12 women, four children and 50 men among the deceased. The lightning strikes also injured 25 people.
Most of them were killed while fishing or bringing cattle back home from the field. Some of the victims died while sleeping in houses made of corrugated tin-sheet, and standing under trees.
It said, a rising temperature will also lead to a higher number of lightning strike in the days to come.
The organisation highlighted some reasons for the increase in lightning strikes such as climate change, decreasing number of tall trees, installation of a large number of mobile phone towers, and global warming.
Contrary to popular belief, lightning can strike the same place more than once. The common advice is to remain indoors and find a safe and enclosed shelter when thunder roars.
When dark clouds gather, people should avoid staying in open space or rooftops. People are advised not to stand beside windows.
If there is no available shelter, then people should crouch low touching the ground as much as possible. Lightning causes electric currents along the top of the ground that can be deadly over 100 feet away, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP).
The CDCP suggests staying away from concrete floors or walls as lightning can travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.
One should remember that remaining indoors does not guarantee protection against lightning. In fact, about one-third of lightning strike injuries indoors, the CDCP said.
Lightning can travel through plumbing, too, and it is unsafe to stay in pond or water bodies while thunderbolt occurs.
If anyone is struck by lightning, he should be treated like an electric shock victim.
Deaths reported in other districts from lightning strikes are three in Habiganj, 10 in Rajshahi, nine in Chapainawabganj, six in Pabna, seven in Dinajpur, four in Nilphamari, four in Jamalpur, four in Sherpur, six in Naogaon, five in Sirajganj, five in Narayanganj, three in Moulvibazar, four in Khulna, 11 in Satkhira and four in Tangail.
