Dhaka, May 4 -- Both "forecasting and early action" are essential to reduce deaths from lightning strikes which kill more people every year than cyclones and floods, say disaster management professionals.

Public awareness about lightning may help reduce fatalities, they said at a workshop organised by an NGO in Dhaka on Monday.

Citing an estimate by the Department of Disaster Management, they said the "natural disaster" claimed the lives of 3,658 people between 2015 and 2025.

The workshop, titled "Lightning Risk Reduction and Preparedness in Bangladesh", reviewed initiatives to prevent lightning risks, identified gaps and challenges, and discussed global measures.

Disaster Management and Relief Joint Secretary Abu Daud Md Golam Mustaf...