The government is increasing the use of technology to reduce the loss of life due to lightning

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu said that besides modernizing the existing policies to deal with the effects of climate change and the risk of natural disasters, the government is taking various technology-based initiatives to reduce the loss of life due to lightning.

During the question and answer session in the National Parliament on Monday (June 8), he said that the government is implementing the Disaster Management Act-2012, National Disaster Management Policy-2015 and Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD) to reduce the damage caused by cyclones, cyclones, tornadoes, floods, droughts and riverbeds. To make these plans more up-to-date, revision of the SOD and preparation of a new National Disaster Management Plan for the period 2026-2030 is underway.

The minister said that to reduce the loss of life in lightning prone areas, advance forecasting is being done through modern weather monitoring system and it is being conveyed to the common people with the help of mass media, social media and IVR technology.

Besides, distribution of leaflets, posters, organizing drills, installation of farmers' canopies-cum-lightning poles and large-scale planting of palm trees have been undertaken to increase awareness. The government is also working to strengthen research and training programs to create skilled manpower in disaster management.