Definition and Types
- Definition: Lightning is an electrical discharge that occurs when there is an imbalance between the storm clouds and the earth or even within the clouds.
- Types
- Intercloud or intra-cloud (IC): Harmless
- Cloud to Ground (CG) lightning: Harmful as the ‘high electric voltage and electric current’ can lead to electrocution.
Annual Lightning Report in India (2023-2024)
- Increase in Lightning Incidents: Lightning occurrences have increased by 57% over the past five years in India.
- Decline in Fatalities: Despite the increase in lightning strikes, fatalities have reduced by over 22% due to improved awareness and early warning systems.
- High-Risk States: The most affected states include Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
- Vulnerable Populations: 96% of lightning-related damages occur in rural areas.
Impacts of Lightning
- Loss of human and wildlife life.
- Agriculture and infrastructure loss.
- Trigger wildfire.
NDMA Guidelines on Lightening
- Mapping of major lightning-affected zones. It can be done on the basis of the availability of data on the numbers of lightning incidences, deaths that occurred, and injured persons data.
- Sharing of data between different agencies for the preparation of mitigation plans.
- A lightning strike warning system that would inform people of the forthcoming disaster.
- Structural protection measures like Lightening Shields for buildings and other structures.
- Promote installations of high-grade lightning arresters and Doppler Radars at subsidised rates by the government.
- Improved wiring with trip-boxes and good earthing.
- Educating and creating mass awareness on how to safely respond to lightning storms.
- Use of social media to effectively deliver warnings.
- The focus on Lightning protection and awareness is the need of the hour. 100% Safety can be assured with installation of Lightning protection devices only.