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Why Is It Being Tough to Prevent Lightning Death

The number of deaths and injuries due to lightning is increasing in the country. People have been dying in lightning strikes almost every day since last April. A report by the Disaster Forum, a non-governmental organization working on the disaster, said 167 people had been killed in lightning strikes in the past month and a half. Last Sunday (June 6), 27 people died in a single day in different districts of the country. 

Lightning strikes occur more frequently in April and May due to Kalbaishakhi (north-wester). Experts say rising temperatures, lead in air levels, radiation, increasing mobile network towers in remote areas, a decrease in the number of tall trees in forests or rural areas, flooding, and river flooding along with many other facts related to lightning Fatalities. 

According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, the total number of deaths due to lightning in the country from 2010 to 2020 was 2,379. In 2020, 298 people died in lightning strikes. However, the highest number of deaths due to lightning in 2018 was 359 people. 301 people died in 2017. 205 people died in 2016. 160 people died in 2015. 170 people died in 2014. 185 people died in 2013.  201 people died in 2012. 189 people died in 2011 and 123 people died in 2010.  

People who work in the open field during storms and on boats or on the sidewalks are more likely to be struck by lightning. This is because they do not have time to take shelter in a safe place during lightning strikes. Most of the croplands in the country do not have any big trees. The religion of lightning is that it falls to the highest point before hitting the ground. When working on agricultural land, the body of the farmer is higher than the ground. As a result, they are not protected from lightning in any way.

The reality is that the farmer has to go to the field to cut the paddy. It is not possible for him to stay at home for fear of lightning. In this situation, all kinds of alternative measures need to be taken into account. Many say that the risk can be reduced by installing Lightning Restore in the mobile tower as an interim measure. In addition, the mortality rate due to lightning will be greatly reduced by installing this device at certain distances in the crop fields of Haor and Baor areas.

If you want to know about the increase in the number of deaths due to lightning and its remedy, Professor of the Department of Disaster Science and Management, University of Dhaka. ASM Maqsood Kamal said Bangladesh has the highest number of deaths due to lightning in the world. Steps can be taken to protect people by setting up early warning systems and lightning arresters. Besides, people need to be more aware and careful. If black clouds appear in the sky at this time of the day, it is not possible to work in the open field. Earthing at home should be made compulsory. Moreover, planting a large number of trees in the field can play a role in this case.

Despite being one of the riskiest countries in the world, there is no such system to prevent lightning in Bangladesh. The issue of modern warning systems is still limited to planning. Though a plan was made to stop 1 million palm trees in lightning-prone areas, it did not work out. Although palm saplings and seeds have been planted in some places, they have been eaten by cows and goats due to lack of maintenance. Large trees including palm trees are being cut down in the name of road expansion. Due to the lack of supervision, the palm trees planted in the markets and streets are disappearing. Large trees are being cut down on the side of the road all the time. Lightning detective sensors were supposed to be installed at eight places in the country at a cost of around Tk 70 crore to warn of lightning in advance, but it did not work due to a lack of skilled manpower.

In this context, the Minister of State for Disaster. Md. Enamur Rahman said, ‘Early warning system can give warning 40 seconds in advance. Plans have been made to install it. The process of purchasing equipment for disaster management is underway. Plans have been made to plant one crore palm trees. There are plans to set up lightning arrests.

However, an official from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief said that the installation of a lighting store in the tower was officially considered. Experts say a tower will cover an area of ​​only 90 meters after it is installed. Each of these devices costs about seven lakh rupees. It is quite expensive compared to the coverage area. So the ministry later moved away from this plan. At present, besides making the farmers of the haor areas, especially the haor areas, aware, importance is being given to planting new trees and conserving big trees in those areas.

Many experts think that planting palm trees and setting up arresters is an ineffective method in Bangladesh. Weather and climate expert Mostafa Kamal Palash said, "It is never possible to protect the people of the country from lightning by setting up arresters. Transformers can be protected using this method. And to save people from lightning, millions of arrests have to be made. '

If you want to know about the increase in the number of deaths due to lightning and its remedy, Professor of the Department of Disaster Science and Management, University of Dhaka. ASM Maqsood Kamal said Bangladesh has the highest number of deaths due to lightning in the world. Steps can be taken to protect people by setting up early warning systems and lightning arresters. Besides, people need to be more aware and careful. If black clouds appear in the sky at this time of the day, it is not possible to work in the open field. Earthing at home should be made compulsory. Moreover, planting a large number of trees in the field can play a role in this case.

Despite being one of the most risky countries in the world, there is no such system to prevent lightning in Bangladesh. The issue of modern warning systems is still limited to planning. Though a plan was made to stop 1 million palm trees in lightning prone areas, it did not work out. Although palm saplings and seeds have been planted in some places, they have been eaten by cows and goats due to lack of maintenance. Large trees including palm trees are being cut down in the name of road expansion. Due to the lack of supervision, the palm trees planted in the markets and streets are disappearing. Large trees are being cut down on the side of the road all the time. Lightning detective sensors were supposed to be installed at eight places in the country at a cost of around Tk 60 crore to warn of lightning in advance, but it did not work due to lack of skilled manpower.

In this context, the Minister of State for Disaster. Md. Enamur Rahman said, ‘Early warning system can give warning 40 seconds in advance. Plans have been made to install it. The process of purchasing equipment for disaster management is underway. Plans have been made to plant one crore palm trees. 

However, an official from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief said that the installation of a lighting store in the tower was officially considered. Experts say a tower will cover an area of ​​only 90 meters after it is installed. Each of these devices costs about seven lakh taka. It is quite expensive compared to the coverage area. So the ministry later moved away from this plan. 

Many experts think that planting palm trees and setting up arresters is an ineffective method in Bangladesh. Weather and climate expert Mostafa Kamal Palash said, "It is never possible to protect the people of the country from lightning by setting up arresters. "

Experts say it is possible to predict lightning two to three hours in advance using air force radar software. Using the Air Force's radar software, the target of the first lightning strike will be known and the information will be sent directly to the mobile in that area. Every 5 minutes a picture can be given where the lightning is happening. 

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