With the onset of summer, the country has already witnessed the season’s first nor’wester (Kalbaishakhi).
Nor’wester hits the country during March-May period every year, killing people, damaging houses and crop fields, uprooting trees and electric poles and sinking water vessels.
Besides, thunderstorm coincides with the setting in of the summer season. Bangladesh has already experienced a number of powerful cyclonic storms and nor’wester, which has caused huge damage to the country’s natural resources.
The frequency and intensity of cyclones and storms have increased in the country in the recent years due to climate change. Besides, the rainfall patterns are also gradually changing in the country.
Every year, many people die and go missing after water vessels like launch, trawlers capsize in the river caused by powerful storms. On the other hand, lightning strike has turned into one of the deadliest natural disasters in our country, which claims many lives every year due to the loss of natural defense system and lack of precautionary measures as well.
The frequency and intensity
of cyclones and storms have
increased in the country
in the recent years
As the nor’wester uproot vulnerable and outdated electricity poles, the ministry concerned will have to remove those immediately and install new ones. Though we all know that natural disasters cannot be prevented, we must take preparations in advance and try to minimise the damage they can cause.
The government will have to take preparations in advance and work in a well-coordinated way to face the cyclone, nor’wester and storms. In this regard, national print and electronic media should play major role in forecasting weather warning in time.
People, particularly those who travel by water vessels, farmers and fishermen must follow the weather forecast and take precautions. The state-run agency Bangladesh Inland Water Transport must suspend operation of water vessels if the Met office issues weather warnings and check safety issues of water vessels to prevent any deadly during storm.
Besides, the Met office must inform the people of any possible calamity, so that people can avoid going outside during storm. People have no way in preventing disasters but we can stand by each other after any natural disasters. Our country is at risk of natural disasters such as cyclones, earthquakes, drought, storm surge and flooding. All concerned should get prepared to tackle any disaster and stand by the people by adopting various approaches.