Lightning Threat Haunts Netrokona’s Haor Communities

The arrival of the monsoon once again has brought fear to the vast haor wetlands of Netrokona, where dark clouds are no longer seen merely as a sign of rain but as a warning of potentially deadly lightning strikes. For thousands of farmers, fishermen and daily wage labourers who depend on working in open fields, wetlands and rivers to earn a living, avoiding the danger is rarely an option. As a result, lightning continues to claim lives across the district every year, making it one of the most persistent seasonal hazards in the region.

According to the Netrokona district administration, at least 13 people had died in lightning-related incidents in the district by the end of June 2026. Over the past five and a half years, from 2021 to June 2026, the death toll has reached at least 60. Most of the victims were engaged in farming, fishing or other outdoor occupations, where exposure to sudden weather changes leaves little opportunity to seek shelter.

The district’s records illustrate how the fatalities have fluctuated over recent years.

The highest annual death toll during the period was recorded in 2021, when 15 people lost their lives, while 2022 saw the lowest number with three fatalities. Officials have identified Khaliajuri, Madan, Mohanganj, Kendua, Purbadhala and Netrokona Sadar as the district’s most vulnerable upazilas because of their extensive open wetlands and agricultural landscapes.

A series of recent incidents has once again highlighted the severity of the threat.

On 18 June, following early morning rainfall, Rajib Mia, 24, a brick kiln worker from Joypasha village in Madan upazila, went to catch fish in a nearby field beside his home. He had hoped to return with fish for his family. Instead, he was struck by lightning and died at the scene.

The same day, Shamsul Huda, 55, was killed while fishing in Morail Beel in Kendua upazila. Another resident of the same upazila, Ashraful Islam, 25, died after being struck by lightning in the Sandikona area. The deaths of three people in a single day cast a shadow of grief across the surrounding communities, particularly because several of the victims were the sole earners in their families. Their deaths have left relatives facing financial hardship and deep uncertainty.

Residents of the haor region say the unpredictable nature of local weather makes the danger especially difficult to avoid. Farmers often begin work under clear skies, only to find dark thunderclouds forming within minutes. Samsul Haque, a farmer from Mendipur village in Khaliajuri, said sudden thunderstorms frequently develop while people are working in the fields, leaving them with nowhere safe to take cover. Local fishermen described similar experiences, explaining that once lightning begins while they are on boats, reaching a secure location is often impossible before the storm intensifies.

Meteorological experts believe climate change is contributing to an increase in lightning activity. Md Mamun, who oversees the Netrokona Agricultural Meteorological Observatory, said rising global temperatures are creating greater atmospheric instability, providing favourable conditions for the development of cumulonimbus (CB) clouds, which generate thunderstorms and lightning. He also noted that widespread tree loss has weakened the area’s natural protection against lightning. As a result, he stressed the importance of planting tall and suitable tree species, including palmyra palms, across vulnerable haor areas to help reduce the risks over the long term.

District Commissioner Khandaker Mushfiqur Rahman said installing lightning protection rods alone would not be sufficient to safeguard the district’s vast haor landscape. Instead, the administration is planning to establish dedicated emergency shelters near open fields and wetlands so that farmers and fishermen can quickly move to safety during sudden storms. The proposal has already been communicated to the relevant ministry, while specialists are expected to conduct field inspections to determine suitable locations and assess technical requirements. The planned shelters are expected to include lightning protection systems as well as essential emergency facilities.

Disaster management specialists say reducing lightning-related deaths will require a combination of infrastructure, public awareness and timely weather information. Faster dissemination of weather warnings, improved access to safe shelters and continued education on lightning safety could significantly reduce casualties. For communities living and working in the exposed landscapes of Netrokona’s haor region, such measures are increasingly viewed as an urgent necessity to protect both lives and livelihoods during every monsoon season.