NEW DELHI: India’s first-ever Annual Lightning Report (2019-2020) released on December 31, has recorded 1,771 deaths due to lightning between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2020. This despite the fact that India has 82 lightning detectors, apps that deliver alert notifications for upcoming lightning incidents, and the IMD can relay immediate lightning forecasts for the next three hours.
According to experts, the problem is the last-mile delivery of the warning. The report hopes to address this gap by providing extensive state-wise data on lightning strikes, fatalities and patterns. According to the report the maximum number of lightning deaths, 293, were reported in Uttar Pradesh, followed by 248 in Madhya Pradesh, 221 in Bihar, 200 in Odisha and 172 in Jharkhand. However, the number of deaths has reduced by 24% from 2018. The report has been compiled based on reports as received from state governments, media and volunteers.
‘Factor in lightning hazard in infra development plans’
January 07, 2021
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Every third death from natural hazards is attributed to lightning that has proved to be a major killer as per data pertaining to the last 54 years (1967 to 2020), says the Annual Lightning Report 2019-20 brought out by the Lightning Resilient India Campaign 2019-20.
The Campaign is a joint initiative of the Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council (CROPC); India Meteorological Department (IMD); the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India; Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology; India Meteorological Society; and World Vision India.
Electrical sensitivity tests have been largely given the go-by when it comes to planning infrastructure development, says Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, Chairman of the campaign.