Low awareness leaves farmers vulnerable to lightning strikes

Farmers have emerged as the most vulnerable group as lightning strikes continue to claim lives across Bangladesh during the peak storm season, reinforcing experts’ calls for stronger protection measures.
A key factor behind this vulnerability is limited awareness and access to timely safety information among rural farming communities. 
Most casualties occur among those working in open fields, where economic pressure and the urgency of harvesting crops often keep farmers exposed despite warnings. 
The risks are compounded by additional losses, such as cattle deaths, which directly affect livelihoods.
Bangladesh records an average of around 300 lightning-related deaths each year, according to UN estimates, with farmers accounting for roughly 80% of the victims. 
Open areas such as farmlands, riverbanks and haor regions are particularly prone to strikes, leaving rural workers disproportionately at risk.
Although the government has launched awareness campaigns, sending teams to agricultural areas to educate communities on storm safety, experts say such efforts remain insufficient. Outreach often fails to reach remote regions where the need is greatest.
Recent incidents underline the scale of the problem. 
On 30 April, lightning strikes killed 29 cattle in Kalapara upazila, affecting more than 23 farmers and dealing a significant blow to their incomes. 
Local farmers in coastal areas, including near Payra Port, believe the actual number of livestock deaths may be higher. 
With Eid-ul-Azha approaching, many had hoped to sell their cattle, but losses are estimated at around Tk60 lakh. Authorities have begun compiling lists of affected farmers for assistance.
Dr Mohammed Moniruzzaman Khan, associate professor and director of the Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies at the University of Dhaka, said farmers often remain in the fields even when storms are imminent.
“April and May are the peak months for lightning strikes, coinciding with the main crop harvesting season,” he said. 
“Even when warnings are issued before storms,                many are reluctant to seek shelter because they fear their crops may be damaged or become impossible to harvest later. Losing the harvest often means losing their primary source of income.”
He added that landowners sometimes pressure workers to continue despite adverse weather, while some labourers risk wage deductions if they stop early. “As a result, many choose to remain in the fields despite the danger,” he said.
Even where shelters exist, they are often too far from agricultural land to be reached in time once storms begin. 
Dr Moniruzzaman stressed the need for practical interventions, including the installation of lightning arresters in fields to safely channel electrical charges into the ground. He also called for more shelters in remote rural areas and wider, sustained awareness campaigns.
“Many isolated communities are still beyond the reach of current programmes. These are the people who need support the most,” he said.
Geographically, Bangladesh lies in one of the world’s most lightning-prone regions. 
In 2021 alone, more than 5.7 million lightning events were recorded, averaging about 42 strikes per square kilometre. 
The country officially declared lightning a natural disaster in 2016 after more than 200 deaths in May of that year, including 82 on a single day.
Despite some fluctuations, fatalities remain high. 
Between 2015 and 2024, at least 3,485 people were killed by lightning, according to the Department of Disaster Management. 
After a slight decline in recent years, deaths rose again in 2025 to 350, including 23 fatalities on a single day, 28 April – 19 of them farmers.
Since 18 April this year, at least 45 people have died in lightning strikes, 28 of them farmers, pushing the total death toll to 72, according to the Save the Society and Thunderstorm Awareness Forum.
Experts warn that without stronger protective measures and broader awareness, farmers will continue to bear the brunt of one of the country’s deadliest natural hazards.