Revision as of 19:55, 6 August 2024

Lightning strikes: India

2014: Deaths caused by lightning

States with more than 100 deaths caused by lightning; Graphic courtesy: The Times of India, Sep 08 2015

Total accidental deaths due to natural causes, 2014; Graphic courtesy: The Times of India, Sep 08 2015

Deaths caused by lightning in the past decade (2005-14); Graphic courtesy: The Times of India, June 23, 2016

Accidental deaths due to forces of nature (2014); Graphic courtesy: The Times of India, June 23, 2016

The Times of India, Sep 08 2015 

In 2014, more than 20,000 people were killed by accidents caused by forces of nature.Among the known reasons of these deaths, the largest chunk were due to lightning, which alone killed more than 2,500 people. It was followed by heat sun stroke, exposure to cold and flood, each causing more than 500 deaths. A state-wise comparison of lightning deaths shows that the highest number of causalities was reported in Madhya Pradesh, where over 400 people lost their lives.Andhra Pradesh, where 19 people got killed by multiple lightning strikes on Sunday, witnessed 69 deaths in 2014.

2019

In MP

Ankur Sirothia , Oct 26, 2019: The Times of India

Madhya Pradesh had the highest number of lightning deaths in the country in August-September this year. At least 150 people were killed in these two months, and there were over 6.25 lakh lightning flashes across the state — twice as many as second-place UP.

This is in addition to 102 lightning deaths between April 1 and July 1, which means 250 people were struck dead by lightning in six months. Between April and July, MP was fifth in lightning strikes at 4.81 lakh. But in the next two months, it blazed to first place with 6.24 lakh lightning strikes. UP came second with 2.96 lakh strikes.

2020: 1,771 lightning deaths

Shobita Dhar, January 9, 2021: The Times of India

Lightning deaths, 2020
From: Shobita Dhar, January 9, 2021: The Times of India

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 the country has 82 lightning detectors, apps that deliver alert notifications for upcoming 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. The maximum number of lightning deaths, 293, was 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 reduced by about 25% from 2018.

‘Standing under trees linked to 71% of lightning deaths in India’

The report, compiled based on numbers as received from state governments, media and volunteers, and as part of ‘The Lightning Resilient India Campaign’ launched in April 2019, is a joint initiative by Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council, IMD, ministry of earth science, GoI, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, India Meteorological Society and World Vision India.

In India, every third death due to natural hazards is due to lightning. Nearly 42,500 people were killed by lightning strikes between 2001 and 2018, as per NCRB data. “The northeastern states and the Chota Nagpur Plateau region were identified as lightning hotspots. Tribals in Odisha and Jharkhand were found to be especially vulnerable because their livelihood depends on working outdoors,” said colonel Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, chairman, Lightning Resilient India Campaign and CROPC.

As per the report, the maximum number of fatalities — over 200 — were reported between July 25 and 31, 2019. During Cyclone Fani, Odisha received over one lakh lightning strikes but there were no fatalities because all the 891 cyclone shelters were fitted with lightning arresters. Standing under a tree is the top primary cause of lightning deaths in India, 71% are because of it.

B

Vishwa Mohan, July 20, 2021: The Times of India

Lightning strikes in India in 2020
From: Vishwa Mohan, July 20, 2021: The Times of India

India had last year recorded a nearly 23% increase in lightning episodes compared to 2019 with Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha and West Bengal turning out to be among the top vulnerable states in terms of reporting this weather phenomena.

Though the lightning along with thunderstorm had claimed more lives in Bihar, UP, Jharkhand and Maharashtra compared to the top five that reported lightning episodes last year, the increase in number of such events, recorded by the Earth Networks — a private agency of a nationwide lightning detection network in India — shows vulnerability of most parts of the country.

The Earth Networks report, released on Monday, shows its network had detected nearly 39.6 million lightning pulses in India in 2020, of which just over 13 million were dangerous ‘cloud-to-ground’ strikes — the lightning which hit the ground, putting lives and property in danger.

“It’s a huge number which practically makes a large part of the country vulnerable,” Kumar Margasahayam of the Earth Networks, told TOI.

He said issuing timely alerts as part of a robust early warning system, dissemination of the alerts for vulnerable populations and creating awareness among people about the danger of lightning were the three crucial steps to save lives. “India is extremely susceptible to severe weather events,” he said.

2023

61,000 lightning strikes in two hours in Odisha

Minati Singha, Sep 4, 2023: The Times of India

Twelve people died and 14 others were injured in 61,000 lightning strikes across Odisha in two hours on Saturday. The IMD has issued a warning of extreme weather conditions in the state till September 7 with an active cyclonic circulation likely to cause widespread rain, reports Minati Singha.


Four of the deceased in the lightning strikes were from Khurda district, two from Balangir and one each from Angul, Boudh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Jagatsinghpur and Puri. An ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh will be paid to each of the bereaved families.