Lightning an understated disaster in India

Source: The post  “Lightning an understated disaster in India” has been created, based on “Lightning an understated disaster in India: Experts call for deeper understanding of atmospheric electricity” published in “Down to earth” on 24th December 2025.

UPSC Syllabus: GS Paper-3- Disaster Management

Context: Lightning is the deadliest natural hazard in India, causing more fatalities than floods, cyclones, or earthquakes. Despite its high mortality, it remains an under-recognised and spatially dispersed disaster. Experts at the 9th National Lightning Conference held in December 2025 highlighted the growing threat posed by lightning in the context of climate change, along with persistent gaps in research, infrastructure, and local preparedness.

Key Trends and Findings

1. Rising Frequency and Changing Geography

• Lightning strikes in India increased by nearly 400 percent between 2019 and 2025, indicating a sharp escalation in risk.
• New lightning hotspots have emerged in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, and Delhi, reflecting increasing vulnerability in semi-arid and desert regions.
• Additional hotspots have been identified along the Kaimur and Satpura ranges in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, suggesting a widening geographical spread.

2. Regional and Seasonal Patterns

• Eastern and central India experience the highest incidence of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes and associated casualties.
• Lightning activity spreads over a larger geographical area during the southwest monsoon season.
• North-west India records higher lightning activity during the monsoon months, while the western peninsular region witnesses peak lightning during the pre-monsoon period.

3. Human Impact

• Between 2014 and 2025, Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of lightning-related deaths at 3,496, followed by Bihar with 3,041 deaths and Himachal Pradesh with 2,923 deaths.
• District-level vulnerability analysis indicates that 207 districts fall under high lightning vulnerability, while 434 districts fall under moderate vulnerability categories.

Role of Climate Change and Geography

1. Global warming is intensifying thunderstorm activity by increasing atmospheric instability.
2. Rising atmospheric electricity enhances cloud moisture retention, thereby establishing a direct link between lightning, extreme rainfall events, and cloudbursts.
3. Certain geographical features, such as the rocky terrain of the Western Ghats and the limestone hills of Uttarakhand, tend to accumulate higher atmospheric electrical charges, which increases local lightning risk.

Existing Measures and Achievements

1. The India Meteorological Department and the National Disaster Management Authority have developed early warning systems through applications such as Sachet, Mausam, and Damini.
2. The Annual Lightning Report 2024–25 was released by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, the IMD, and the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
3. Improved forecasting, warning dissemination, and public awareness have contributed to a decline in lightning-related deaths despite a rise in the number of strikes.
4. The adoption of multi-model ensemble forecasting has further improved the assessment of lightning intensity and probability.

Key Gaps and Challenges

1. Scientific and Technical Gaps

• India has a limited network of ground-based lightning detection systems, which affects accurate monitoring and forecasting.
• There is an absence of high-voltage testing laboratories for evaluating lightning protection equipment.
• Measurement of atmospheric electric fields remains inadequate, even though such measurements could enable earlier and more reliable warnings.

2. Institutional and Capacity Constraints

• Technical capacity at the state and district levels remains insufficient to manage lightning-related risks effectively.
• Detection and monitoring infrastructure is particularly weak in hilly and mountainous regions, where lightning vulnerability is often high.

3. Community-Level Limitations

• Early warning messages often fail to translate into timely protective action at the community level.
• Alerts are not consistently issued in local languages or framed in an action-oriented manner. Gram Panchayats and village institutions lack structured lightning mitigation and preparedness plans.

Way Forward

1. Scientific infrastructure must be strengthened by expanding ground-based lightning detection networks, establishing high-voltage lightning testing laboratories, and systematically measuring atmospheric electric fields for earlier warnings.
2. Decentralised planning should be promoted through the preparation of district-specific lightning mitigation plans and the deployment of low-cost detection devices at the village level.
3. A community-centric approach is essential, which includes enhancing grassroots awareness, issuing warnings in simple local languages with clear do’s and don’ts, and integrating lightning mitigation into local disaster management plans.
4. All mitigation and preparedness measures should follow NDMA guidelines to ensure systematic and standardized disaster management at national, state, and district levels.

Conclusion: Lightning is a climate-amplified and spatially dispersed disaster that requires a shift from a purely technological response to a science-backed, decentralised, and community-driven strategy. Strengthening research capabilities, infrastructure, and local preparedness is critical to further reducing fatalities and building long-term lightning resilience across India.

Question: Lightning has emerged as the deadliest yet under-recognised natural disaster in India. Analyse the changing trends, regional patterns, and underlying causes of lightning incidents in India. Examine the gaps in existing mitigation measures and suggest a way forward.