At least seven persons including a schoolgirl were killed by lightning strikes in three districts yesterday.

In Habiganj, two farmers Adhir Baishnab, 27, and Basu Baishnab, 32, were killed and another Krishnadhan Baishnab, 30, was injured in lightning strikes in Baniachang upazila, reports our local correspondent. 

In Sunamganj, farmer Nabo Kumar Das, 65, was killed after being hit by lighting, local police said.

In Sherpur, four persons, including a schoolgirl Sharmin, were killed in separate lightning incidents, witnesses said.

So far a total of 107 people have been killed by lightning strikes since January, according to the website of disaster management and relief ministry.

The ministry, on an experimental basis, have set up lightning detectors at nine places across the country to monitor lightning 10 to 15 minutes before it strikes.

The detectors worth Tk 20cr were brought from USA, ministry sources said.

With the advanced detectors, Met office will be able to give specific information about location and time of lightening, said ministry officials.

Once the time and location is known, it will be immediately published on the Met office website, ministry officials said.

Also, same information will be available on weather app in smart-phone.

In addition, 31.39 lakh palm seeds have been planted across the country to protect people from lightning, said Md Shah Kamal, secretary to disaster management and relief ministry.

According to climate experts, frequent lightning is caused by climate change.

Tree plantation and proper grounding in buildings with metal objects on the roofs could help reduce lightning-related deaths, they said.

Felling of big trees across the country is also responsible for the sheer rise in lightning strikes, they also said. 

With the newly installed lightning detectors, the Met office will be able to monitor 1000km area.