Affected families get Tk 15 lakh
81 killed in lightning strikes: Govt
Lightning strikes have become a serious natural threat to people in Bangladesh, disaster management and relief minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya said at a press briefing in the Secretariat yesterday.
In all, 81 people across 26 districts have died due to lightning strikes and five due to other reasons during norwesters this summer. The local administrations have already compensated the affected families in cash.
Death due to lightning strike used to be quite rare in the country, but it has claimed many lives in recent years. The government declared lightning strike as a disaster on August 27 last year, following the death of 17 people.
The ministry has paid a total Tk. 14.70 lakh in compensation. Each family affected by lightning strikes received Tk 10,000, while those affected in other ways by norwesters got Tk. 25,000 each, Maya said.
Those injured have also received some compensation in cash, he added. The district administrations have always been by the side of the people, whether during manmade disasters or natural ones, he insisted.
Lightning strikes have become a risk, especially for those involved in agriculture, Maya said.
He pointed out that many of the people who died due to lightning strikes were working in agricultural fields.
Open places are not safe during lightning, Maya said, adding, We suggest that people stay home or in other sheltered places during a thunderstorm.
We are deeply saddened by the death of 81 people, including women and children, due to lightning strikes. We believe such incidents are happening due to global weather change, the minister said.
Recalling his childhood, Maya said, We used to run out of the classroom upon hearing thunder, but now it has become quite the opposite.
Disaster management and relief secretary Shah Kamal, additional secretary Sajjad Kabir, and other high officials of the departments concerned were present at the press briefing.
