DHAKA, Oct 5, 2024 (BSS) - A total of 297 people have died and 73 others have been injured by lightning strikes across the country in the last eight months till September.
 
Of them, three districts-- Brahmanbaria, Joypurhat and Habiganj--have witnessed 13 deaths each.
 
The information was disclosed at a press briefing of ‘Save the Society and Thunderstorm Awareness Forum’ (SSTAF) at its Segunbagicha office here.
 
SSTAF general secretary Md Rashim Molla, chief executive of research cell Abdul Alim, joint general secretary Mostaq Ahmed and legal advisor Advocate Faruque Hossain, among others, were present.
 
They said the information was collected from different newspapers, online news portals and TVs.
 
Of the total deaths, 11 were children, 55 women and the rest 242 were male.
 
Besides, 152 farmers were killed by lightning strikes when they were in fields.
 
The organization has placed five-point demands to reduce the causality by lightning strikes in the country.
 
The demands are including chapters on lightning awareness in textbooks, arranging meetings, seminars and trainings to raise awareness among the public, especially farmers, setting up shelter centers in the fields and providing free medical care to the injured people.