96% of lightning victims are rural people - Mid-Monsoon 2019 Lightning Report

Photo by Liliya Grek on Unsplash

A majority of lightning victims (96%) belongs to rural India, according to the Mid-Monsoon 2019 Lightning Report prepared by Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council (CROPC) using the Indian Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Lightning forecasts. Farmers, women and children in rural areas are found to be vulnerable because of working in open.

The report is an effort to prepare a Lightning risk map of India and identify Lightning hotspots.

 

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The report also highlights that 71% of people struck by lightning were standing under tree during rains, thunderstorm or lightning. It says that awareness drive needs to be up-scaled. 

"The message of not to stand under a tree during rains, thunderstorms and lightning can save more than 2000 deaths."

According to the report from 1st April 2019 to 31 July 2019, Odisha tops with 9 lakh lightning strikes which is 15% of total strikes. Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh together account for more than 50% lightning strikes of India.

The report also throws light on the extinction of few tribal communities in the Chotanagpur Plateau region as they are more lightning prone.

"There is a severe and fast extinction of a few tribal communities like Birhor, Pahadiya , Ho, Hmar who needs to be given lightning protection to prevent their extinction."

The most number of deaths (224) due to lightning is reported from Uttar Pradesh followed by Bihar. Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh. Although Odisha has the most lightning counts, the number of deaths reported in the state (129) is less than UP.