lightning
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Bangladesh has witnessed a record rise in the number of deaths from lightning strikes this year, and experts say it is linked to global warming and deforestation.

Until September 20, a total of 193 people were killed in lightning strikes, beating all previous annual figures that ranged from 51 to 136 between 2010 and 2015, according to the Department of Disaster Management.

The total death toll since 2010 is 828. However, the actual number of deaths from lightning strikes could be more as it had not been considered a natural disaster until recently and not recorded by the department, an official told The Daily Star.

The record of people getting injured in lightning strikes is not maintained either.

The government declared lightning as one of the natural disasters only earlier this year, said M Khalid Mahmood, director (planning and development) at the DDM.

The district administration, as per a standing order, provides Tk 20,000 to the families that have lost a member in lightning strike.
Lightning stats

Gawher Nayeem Wahra, director of Disaster Management and Climate Change at Brac, said authorities appear grossly negligent to the growing danger from lightning strikes by not taking any measures to prevent deaths from the natural disaster.

"Compensating families of the deceased with several thousand taka is almost meaningless when the person is gone," he said. There would be thousands getting injured by lightning strikes and many are suffering life-long consequences without any attention from the authorities, he added.

The average age of those killed is 35, earning members of families and those families face dire consequences, said Nayeem Wahra.