At least 126 people were killed by lightning strikes across Bangladesh in the last two months of the current calendar year, according to data compiled by a non-government organisation.
'Save the Society and Thunderstorm Awareness Forum' said it gathered the data from at least 10 local and national newspapers, some online portals and televisions.
The victims include 21 women, seven children and 98 men, reports UNB citing a media statement by the organisation on Saturday.
Most of them were killed while fishing or bringing cattle back home from fields. Some of the victims died while sleeping in houses made of corrugated tin-sheet, and standing under trees.
Fifty-three people were also injured in lightning strikes during the May-June period.
16 deaths were reported in Kishoreganj, three in Habiganj, 10 in Rajshahi, nine in Chapainawabganj, six in Pabna, seven in Dinajpur, four in Nilphamari, four in Jamalpur, four in Sherpur, six in Naogaon, five in Sirajganj, three in Moulvibazar, four in Khulna, 11 in Satkhira, and four were killed in Tangail.
The organisation highlighted some reasons for the increase in lightning strikes such as climate change, decreasing number of tall trees, installation of a large number of mobile phone towers, and global warming.
It said a rising temperature will also lead to a higher number of lightning strikes.
