Deaths by lightning
The issue of
lightning should be taken seriously, calling it a new kind of disaster
Eight people were killed and seven injured in three incidents of lightning strike in Dinajpur and Sunamganj districts on Saturday, according to a report of this newspaper on Sunday. It is worrying to note that incidents of lightning have increased alarmingly in the country in recent times. According to statistics, during the past seven years till April 22 last, 744 people were killed in lightning. According to analysts change in global climate is mainly responsible for the increasing incidents of lightning.
It is a fact that human beings have no control over the freak of nature nor the ferocity of nature can be tamed. But by taking precautions lives can be saved. A person in the open can save himself/herself from a strike if precaution is taken. It is a commonsense that during the stormy weather one should not remain outdoors, but at villages farmers work in the crop field as a necessity and they become victims of lightning. Everybody should be cautious as to what they should do during inclement weather, but the farmers must be made more cautious as they work in the open where there are no long trees.
Palms and other long trees which were more common in the villages in the past used to absorb lightning; but as they are hard to come by now, there is this increase of deaths by lightning. It is heartening to note that the present government has taken adequate measures to minimize lightning. Some officials of the Disaster management department have received training in Vietnam. Besides, anti-lightning machines have been brought from Vietnam. Those will be installed in different places.
According to another report of this newspaper, the dwindling number of palm trees in the countryside may have led to the increase in number of deaths due to lightning strikes. Where palm trees exist, the number of deaths due to lightning strikes is lower than the palm tree less areas. As part of the governments reforestation campaign, launched in 2016, a good number of palm seeds were planted on both sides of road adjacent to Dartana River at Boitpur village in Sadar upazila of Bagerhat district on Wednesday. Palm trees have also been planted in Noakhali, Bhola, Patuakhali, Chittagong, Coxs Bazar, Laxmipur, Barguna and Jhalakathi districts since 2015. What is needed now is massive tree plantation for protecting environment where we can live relatively safe. The issue of lightning should be taken seriously, calling it a new kind of disaster.
