Explained: How lightning kills, and how to be safe when it strikes?

What is the News?

Seventeen people have been killed by lightning over the last two days in various parts of Bihar.

What is Lightning?

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Lightning Strikes in India

According to a report on lightning by Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council (CROPC), in 2019-20, about 1.4 crore lightning strikes were recorded which increased to 1.85 crores in 2020-21.

In 2021-22, about 1.49 crore strikes were recorded across the country. The reason attributed to this reduction in lightning is due to the Covid-19 pandemic-induced reduction in aerosol level, pollution, environmental up-gradation and relatively stable weather system in the Indian subcontinent.

But most of this reduction was seen in the cloud-to-cloud lightning. Of the strikes that reach the Earth, only a 2.5% reduction was observed.

Lightning Prone Areas in India

Madhya Pradesh has reported the largest number of cloud to ground lightning strikes followed by Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha and West Bengal. Other states with high strike rates include Bihar, UP, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu.

What steps are being taken against lightning strikes?

States are being encouraged to prepare and implement lightning action plans, along the lines of heat action plans. 

An international centre for excellence on lightning research to boost detection and early warning systems is also in the process of being set up.

How can the impact of Lightning strikes be mitigated?

Firstly, Lightning needs to be listed as a notified disaster by the Ministry of Home to get required attention in national policy directives and developmental programmes.

Secondly, more than 96% of lightning deaths happen in rural areas. As such, most of the mitigation and public awareness programmes need to focus on these communities.

Thirdly, lightning protection devices are fairly unsophisticated and low-cost. Yet, their deployment in the rural areas, as of now, is extremely low. Hence, they should be deployed.

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained: How lightning kills, and how to be safe when it strikes?” published in Indian Express on 21st June 2022.