FOR the people of Tharparkar, monsoon is a season of celebration. Children rush outdoors to welcome the showers, peacocks spread their colourful feathers, and fresh greenery begins to emerge from the sand.
In Thar, the monsoon represents life itself.
However, the season is increasingly accompanied by tragedy. Thunderstorms and deadly lightning strikes have become a growing threat to communities acrossthe desert. Farmers worl(ing in the fields, shepherds tending livestocl(, and women collecting water are often caught in the open, with little or no protection, when storms suddenly develop.
The monsoon season this year once again exposed such vulnerability. Heavy rains and thunderstorms swept through Islamkot, Mithi, Nagarparkar, Chachro and their surrounding areas. According to media reports, lightning killed at least 11 people and more than 206 animals. In one heart-breaking incident, three farmers,including a teenage boy,lost theirlives while worl(ing in their fields.
These tragedies are nolongerisolated events. Over the last five years, lightning has claimed more than 105 human lives and over 3,100 livestock across Tharparkar.
Behind these statisticslie devastated families, orphaned children and households pushed deeper into poverty. For many families in Thar, losing a camel or cow means losing their primary source of income, food security and resilience.
Climate change is making the situation worse. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, declining groundwater, shrinking grazing lands, and widespread tree cutting have altered the fragile ecosystem of the desert. These changes contribute to increasingly unpredictable weather, where extended dry spells are followed by intense storms, strong winds and frequent lightning.
Public awareness campaigns should educate communities about avoiding open Helds,isolated trees,electric poles and metal objects during thunderstorms.
Besides,installinglightning protection and early warning systems, and improving emergency response can save lives.
AliNawaz Rahimoo Umerkot