Climate Change and Lightning Risk in Bangladesh

In developing countries, lightning hazard is an underrated natural hazard despite having the potential to cause major loss and damages to human life and property and Bangladesh is not an exception. The existing national database of Bangladesh lacks information on lightning casualties. Hence, five years of database on lightning-related deaths and injuries from 2011 to 2016 was constructed through an innovative data mining process. An average of 913 casualties was identified, with an average of 182 people being affected by lightning occurrences each year in Bangladesh. The largest death toll was found among the male population (74%) compared to the females (26%), as males are more involved with labor-intensive agricultural practices in a developing country like Bangladesh. Most casualties occurred during the pre-monsoon (March–May) and monsoon (June–September) seasons with lightning incidents occurring mostly between morning (0600 LST) and afternoon (1800 LST). The most vulnerable age groups were found to be from 16 to 30 and 31 to 45 followed by 60. Outdoor activities accounted for the highest number of lightening causalities; activities mostly involved agricultural practices followed by open area activities. Indoor dwellings also had significant amount of casualty especially in the veranda/balcony and while sleeping. The spatial distributions of lightning casualties were determined by GIS mapping; districts with no, low, moderate and high casualties were determined. Northwestern (Chapainawabganj) and northeastern districts (Kishoreganj and Moulavibazar) of Bangladesh accounted for the highest number of casualties. This study will therefore provide useful information in developing lightning safety measures in Bangladesh.