Gaps in early warning, public preparedness cost lives during lightning strikes: Experts

Gaps in early warning systems and public preparedness continue to cost lives, experts said calling for urgent action on lightning strike at a national workshop in the capital on Monday.

BRAC, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), organised the workshop titled "Lightning Preparedness and Risk Reduction in Bangladesh" at BRAC Centre.

The event reviewed ongoing mitigation efforts, identified gaps in the current response system and discussed international approaches to lightning risk reduction.

Abu Daud Md Gulam Mustafa, joint secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, attended as chief guest. He said farmers, children, and women face the highest risk, given the country's population density and their exposure to open spaces.

He stressed the need to install shelters equipped with lightning arresters in high-risk areas, alongside stronger early warning systems and public awareness campaigns.

The urgency of the issue was underscored by a stark statistic. Md Momenul Islam, director (current charge) of BMD, who chaired the discussion, said 71 people died from lightning strikes between 26 April and 2 May alone, despite early warnings being issued three days in advance.

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"Early warning is only effective when it leads to timely action and proper implementation," he said, adding that coordination at all levels and stronger public awareness of safety measures are essential to bringing the death toll down.

Dr Md Liakath Ali, director of BRAC's Disaster Risk Management Programme, pointed to the delivery mechanism as a critical bottleneck.

Forecast information must reach people several hours in advance through channels with wide reach, he said, describing this as a challenge that requires a collaborative effort among all stakeholders.

The opening remarks were delivered by Khondoker Golam Tawhid, head of BRAC's Disaster Risk Management Programme.

The keynote presentation was delivered by Dr Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik, meteorologist at BMD's Storm Warning Centre, who spoke on lightning vulnerability, risk patterns, and the current state of forecasting and early warning in Bangladesh.

Representatives from RIMES, UNDP, Plan International, and BRAC also shared their experiences and ongoing initiatives.

A panel discussion followed, with experts highlighting the difficulties of predicting lightning and delivering warnings to remote areas, while identifying priorities for action on the ground.

Over the past ten years, lightning has killed 3,485 people in the country which is more than cyclones and floods combined. Bangladesh declared lightning a national disaster in 2016.

Despite that recognition, the country continues to record some of the highest lightning fatality rates in the world, with the risk concentrated in the pre-monsoon and monsoon months.