Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of Deaths Due to Lightning Strikes and Associated Perceptions in Bihar (original) (raw)
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Fatalities related to lightning occurrence and agriculture in Bangladesh
International Journl of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2019
Large numbers of Bangladesh lightning fatalities during the pre-monsoon season have resulted in speculation about causes for this annual event. The present study addresses the situation with lightning occurrence, lightning fatality, and agricultural data. Of the 1,434 lightning deaths from 2013 to 2017 in Bangladesh, an average of 1.73 deaths occur per day in the pre-monsoon season, 0.71 in the monsoon, and very small averages in other seasons. More than half of the deaths are related to agriculture. Population-weighted fatality rates are large in several northeastern districts. Lightning fatalities are frequent in April and especially May during both morning and afternoon. Based on 37.2 million strokes from the Global Lightning Dataset GLD360 network over Bangladesh from 2013 to 2017, lightning is also most frequent in the northeast from mid-April through early June at all hours of the day. Several districts with large lightning stroke densities and fatality rates are the same as with the greatest farming participation. A common crop is Boro rice harvested during April and May in several districts with frequent lightning. As a result, temporal and spatial connections exist among lightning fatalities and occurrence, and agricultural workers. This study identifies the lightning fatality maximum during the pre-monsoon season as frequent lightning coincident with labor-intensive agricultural practices in specific locations. As a result, measures can be taken to address the underlying lightning vulnerability. Additionally, agricultural studies at the times and locations identified here need further exploration. The final steps are to provide meteorological warnings and lightning-safe locations for the most vulnerable population.
SPATIO-TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF LIGHTNING INDUCED FATALITIES AND INJURIES IN BANGLADESH
Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 2019
This study was aimed to analyse the spatio-temporal variation of lightning induced fatalities and injuries during the year of 2012 to 2016 in Bangladesh. Moreover, lightning related relevant information like occurring places, seasonal and diurnal frequency, gender and occupation of the affected people are also being investigated under this study. Data and information were collected from three widely circulated national dailies of Bangladesh, other government sources and research institutes. Collected data and information have compiled and cross-checked avoiding overlapping and inconsistency. Data analysis and mapping has been done using SPSS, MS Excel programs and ArcGIS software. This study revealed that total 1002 fatalities and 613 injuries occurred during the observed period in Bangladesh. The yearly average rate of lightning induced fatalities and injuries was about 200 and 123 respectively. Lightning associated fatalities and injureis have found in all districts of the country except Barguna. The highest number of fatalities was identified in the Sunamganj District. This study also mentioned that most of the lightning induced fatalities and injuries happened during the morning and noon, and most of them were male. Furthermore, it was also identified that farmers, day labours and fishermen account more than 60 percent of the total fatalities and injuries.
Lightning in Northeast Bangladesh: Relation with climatic variables, consequences and adaptation
Journal of Tropical Resources and Sustainable Science (JTRSS), 2021
In Bangladesh, the lightning during a thunderstorm has recently been officially declared as natural disaster, resulting in numerous fatalities each year, especially in the country's northeast. This study aims to look into the relationships between lightning and climatic variables, the spatial distribution of deaths, people's perceptions of the disaster's consequences and adaptation measures, and the influencing factors that make people victims in Sunamganj District. Several statistical approaches, such as descriptive statistics, correlation, and the Mann-Kendall Test, were used to meet the study objectives by examining time series data of climatic variables, lightning events, and household survey data. The data imply that lightning strikes have a positive and statistically significant relationship with climatic variables such as temperature, rainfall, humidity, and air pressure. Moreover, that lightning strikes may become more common in the future as climatic variables i...
International Journal of Advanced Research (IJAR), 2019
Background: Lightning occurs most commonly in the tropical countries, yet due to under-reporting of data, both developed and developing countries didn?t aware the actual problem. Thus, proper reporting and management of the victims related to lighting are crucial. Aim and Objective: To describe the distribution and characteristics of the lightning-related lifetime injuries among residents in a rural area in Sri Lanka Methods: Weconducteda cross-sectional survey among 510 residents in the Medical Officer of Health area, Kiriella. Among them, we selected residents who reported the lightning-related lifetime injuries and interviewed them using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Results: The lightning-related lifetime injuries were 18 (3.6%). Among the victims, 12 (66.7%) were males, and 6 (33.3%) were females. Most (n=13, 72.2%) were 18 to 45 years of age, when injured to lightning. Eight (44.4%) lightning strikes happened during the period from 2004 to 2013, and most of the lightning-related injuries were reported from noon to evening (n=10, 55.6%). The most (n=9, 50.0%) affected body part was the head. Males were 1.34 times increased risk for lightning compared to females (Relative risk 1.34, 95% confidence interval 0.51-3.50). Further, residents of age 18 to 45 years were highly vulnerable to lightning (Relative risk 3.07, 95% confidence interval 1.11-8.49). Conclusions:Lightning-related injuries are more common among younger males in the selected rural area in Sri Lanka. Therefore it is recommended to conduct awareness programmes on preventive measures among at-risk population and to introduce protective measures at residences to mitigate the loss and damage.
International Journal of Population Studies, 2020
Globally, natural disasters have caused a large scale of damage and destruction every year, affecting millions of people, the economy, and development – and developing countries are the most severely affected. Odisha is one of India’s most disaster-prone states. This study explores the effects of, and resilience to, cyclones, floods, droughts, and heatwaves in Odisha, and identifies government strategies that help mitigate these natural disasters. We mainly used primary data collected through a qualitative study undertaken from April 2017 to June 2017 in three districts of Odisha. We conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with community members and key stakeholders at different levels. In addition, our study analyzed secondary data on natural disasters using DesInventar, a disaster information management system data source. The findings show that floods, cyclones, and drought in recent years, along with heatwaves and lightning, have severely affected the people of...
Community Base Vulnerability Mapping for Lightning Strikes in Sri Lanka
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Lightning is one of the oldest observed natural phenomena on earth. An average of 40 people dies every year due to lightning strikes in Sri Lanka. Persons who engage in outdoor activities such as farmers, heavy machinery operators and players are more vulnerable for lightning strikes. Human or animals live in unsafe partly covered shelters, particularly shelters with galvanized roof which trend for casualty of lightning strikes. Reported deaths and casualties due to lightning in rural areas by using electronic or electrical appliances in rural areas are more as compared to urban areas where mitigation mechanisms such as lightning protection systems are used for their residences, factories and offices. Not only that, geographical features like terrain, soil type (soil conductivity) also enhance the impacts of lightning. According to the latest statistics and surveys, it is revealed that the people who do not have proper shelters particularly with galvanized sheet roofs are more vulne...
Recent Lightning-related fatalities and injuries in Bangladesh
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An investigation was carried out to the assessment on thunderstorm and lightning and their impact on human health, agriculture and fisheries. More than half of the respondents (58%) were illiterate and lack of knowledge about thunderstorm (Melandaha Upazila) and 30% were illiterate in Mymensingh Sadar Upazila. In Mymensingh Sadar Upazila, about 70% respondents suffered with light dumb disease and about 46% respondents suffered with moderate headache disease. About 40% respondents suffered with severe heart failure disease. In Melandaha Upazila, about 42% respondents suffered with light heart failure and neural damage disease. About 28% respondents suffered with moderate skin irritation and headache disease. About 32% respondents suffered with severe heart failure and neural damage disease. In Mymensingh Sadar Upazila, about 53% of the respondents reported that fishes are at risk condition at the time of Thunderstorm and lightning and about 47% of the respondents reported that fishes were at very risk condition during TS and lightning. In Melandaha Upazila, about 67% of the respondents reported that fishes were at risk condition at the time of TS and lightning and about 33% of the respondents reported that fishes were at very risk condition during TS and lightning. Most of the respondents reported that TS affected the agricultural production very much. For TS and lightning, agricultural land was unsuitable for agricultural production. Trees and crops were uprooted, damaged and fired. So, people lose their property and lose to their lives. Farmers were struck by thunderbolt while they were working at paddy field and harvesting paddy field. Routine research work with wide public awareness, government and NGO participation, and government regulation are needed for safe and sound environment.
A Case Study for Lightning Scenario and Awareness Building in Bangladesh
2021
Lightning frequencies have increased recently to an alarming way during the monsoon and summer periods in Bangladesh. As a result it has to accept an annual average death toll of 200-300 people from the lethal lightning strikes in the last decade. Observing the consequences of these lightning causalities, it has been considered as one of the natural disasters since 2016. A secondary data sources have been applied in this study. From observations it found that the northeast regions are mostly affected and farmers and fishermen are the most vulnerable groups to lightning fatalities. The aim of this research to introduce a conceptual model to build lightning awareness to combat lightning fatalities in Bangladesh. This policymakers of Bangladesh could think seriously how to implement this lightning awareness building effectively diminishing the enormous causalities.