Lightning kills farmers every year: simple rules that save lives

4 November 2026 · 2 min read · Krishoker Thikana desk

Bangladesh declared lightning a natural disaster in 2016. Department of Disaster Management figures show 243 people were killed by lightning in 2025, and the Disaster Forum counted at least 218 deaths from January to mid-June 2026. Most of them were farmers working in open fields or walking between home and field.

Deaths peak from mid-April to early June, during the Boro harvest, and the northeast (haor areas such as Sunamganj) is hit hardest. Now, before the season, is the time for every farm family to learn the rules.

Before the storm

• Watch the sky. Dark, towering clouds in the afternoon mean danger, even if rain has not started.
• Follow the weather forecast from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, which posts warnings two to four hours ahead.
• Know where the nearest solid building is from each of your fields, and how long it takes to get there.

When you hear thunder

1. Stop work at once and go to a solid (pucca) building. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck.
2. Never shelter under a tree, even a big one. Trees attract lightning.
3. Get out of water: ponds, rivers, flooded paddy fields and boats are dangerous.
4. Stay away from metal: tin sheds, power-tiller handles, iron poles and wire fences.
5. Wear footwear while working in the field, as farmers' groups advise.

If you are caught in the open

Do not lie flat on the ground. Crouch low on the balls of your feet with your feet together, head tucked down and hands over your ears. If you are in a group, spread out a little so one strike does not hurt everyone.

After the storm

Wait about 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back to the field. A person struck by lightning does not carry an electric charge and is safe to touch: start first aid if you know it, and call 999 or take them to hospital immediately.

Help for affected families

Families who lose a member to lightning can ask the Upazila Nirbahi Officer or the Upazila Project Implementation Officer (Department of Disaster Management) about government support. The Wellbeing page of this site lists these offices and emergency numbers.