No nowcasting system ‘led to’ 56 deaths in lightning strike in two days in Bangladesh

After 50 people have died in lightning strikes within 24 hours in Bangladesh, the government has now decided to consult experts to make a to-do list.

The experts say the absence of a ‘nowcasting system’ for urgent notices is one of the reasons behind so many deaths.

Though meteorologists say thunderstorms are common in this season, they are also astonished at so many deaths.

Former Met Office Director Dr Samarendra Karmakar told bdnews24.com on Friday hot weather in April and May creates an atmosphere favourable for lightning strikes.

He suggested giving repeated urgent notices during the nor’westers, especially in north-north west and south-west regions, to raise awareness.

He said some recommendations on preparing a nowcasting system were made in 2012 to downsize the casualties from lightning strikes, despite confusion over its status as a disaster.

Department of Disaster Management (DDM) Director General Md Reaz Ahmed told bdnews24.com the department was concerned over so many deaths in a short span of time.

“We will review the reasons behind the thunder strikes and the deaths, and what we should do,” he said.

He said deaths of over 50 in lightning strikes could be called a ‘disaster’. “We are exploring what we can do.”

At least 33 people died in lightning strikes on Thursday while the deaths crossed 20 on Friday.

The forecast for May had predicted a heat wave to sweep through the country. Meteorological Department said that the north, north east and central parts of the country could experience nor’wester accompanied by thunders for the next 2-3 days.

Former Director of the now defunct SAARC Weather Research Centre Sujit Kumar Debsharma said that thunderstorms were common phenomena in this season of the nor’wester. Generally thunderstorms occur between March and May and may also occur in October-November.

He said that every year about 300 people die in Bangladesh due to the thunderstorms.

He said that when cumulonimbus clouds form, thunderstorms occur.

Cumulonimbus is a dense towering vertical cloud associated with thunderstorms and atmospheric instability, forming from water vapour carried by powerful upward air currents.