Lightning strikes kill 70 in two months

Senior Correspondent: Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya said that 70 people were killed in lightning strikes across the country in March and April.

The minister made the disclosure while addressing a press conference at his secretariat office in the capital on Tuesday noon.

Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya said fifty eight people, including 29 people in two days-April 29, 30, were killed by lightning in April while 12 people were killed in March.

He also said, "The natural disaster lightning created a world record in Bangladesh. That's why lightning recorder machines have been set up in eight districts. The districts are- Dhaka, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Panchagarh, Satkhira, Patuakhali and Naogaon," he added.

"We want to assure the country's people that the government is intensely monitoring the current weather condition including lightning strikes and storms," he added.

Dr Jafar Ahmed Khan, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Shah Kamal, Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Secretary of the Agriculture Ministry Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah, among others attended the function. 

risingbd/Dhaka/May 1, 2018/Noimuddin/Nasim