BHUBANESWAR: With 1.01 lakh deaths in the last five decades, lightning has emerged as one of the most lethal and challenging disasters among natural hazards in the country. As per a study, four states including Odisha accounted for 55 per cent of the deaths.
The study by researchers of three universities and the Climate Resilient Observing-Systems Promotion Council (CROPC) revealed states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha recorded the highest lightning-related fatalities. The area-adjusted lightning deaths (deaths per 1,000 sq km) in Central India were 25 per cent higher and the rate of deaths per one million people was as high as 114 per cent more in Central India than the other regions. Central India is the hardest-hit region in the country in terms of lightning deaths.
The study that investigated human fatalities related to lightning at both state and regional levels from 1967 to 2020 observed a sharp increase in lightning deaths after 2001. Though the highest 13,988 deaths occurred during 2010-2019, the highest 57.49 pc fatalities were recorded from 2000 to 2009.
Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest 18,970 deaths in the last five decades, followed by Maharashtra (13,925), Uttar Pradesh (12,384) and Odisha (10,741). Among the four states Odisha reported the highest 69 deaths per 1,000 sq km and second highest 256 deaths per one million population after Madhya Pradesh (261).
The highest increasing trend and magnitude was observed in Odisha with a 4.57 death rate per year. Researchers attributed the rising trend of lightning deaths to extreme climate conditions.
Professor of Geography at FM University Manoranjan Mishra said lightning is a localised and short-term phenomenon governed by local climatic conditions like the availability of heat and moisture, terrain, and geographical features besides global warming and environmental degradation.
“Cloud-to-ground lightning occurrences have nearly doubled in recent years, which could be one of the major contributing factors behind the increase in lightning fatalities,” he said. Although monsoon is the main driver of lightning formation, Prof Mishra said, coastal, hilly and arid regions have inherent local factors like western disturbance, high temperature due to pollution and mining that create local impacts, leading to a sudden surge of thunderstorms and lightning.
Researchers said Odisha may have been successful in reducing human casualties during disasters like cyclones and floods, and lightning deaths continued to be a concern.
They suggested it is high time the states should put in place mitigation strategies to minimise lightning-induced deaths given the high level of dependence of people on agriculture, poor socio-economic conditions, lack of awareness on safety measures, and a gap in technological development to predict lightning flashes accurately and effectively.
Bolt from the sky
Four states including Odisha account for 55 per cent deaths in the last five decades
Odisha reported highest 69 deaths per 1,000 sq km and second highest 256 deaths per one million population
With a 4.57 death rate per year, the highest increasing trend and magnitude was observed in Odisha