Lightning deaths double since 2004: IMD data

Lightning is the occurrence of a natural electrical discharge of very short duration and high voltage between a cloud and the ground or within a cloud. This violent and sudden electrostatic discharge generates a bright flash and thunder.
In the early stages of development, air acts as an insulator between the positive and negative charges in the cloud and between the cloud and the ground.
When the opposite charges build up enough, this insulating capacity of the air breaks down and there is a rapid discharge of electricity that we know as lightning.
Inter cloud or intra cloud (IC) lightning which are visible and are harmless.
It is cloud to ground (CG) lightning, which is harmful as the ‘high electric voltage and electric current’ leads to electrocution.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) conducted an awareness workshop on lightning and thunderstorms.
It reported that lightning is killing 2000 people annually in India. This has doubled from 1,000 to over 2,500 between 1968 and 2019.
Lightning incidents may be directly related to the climate crisis, and the availability of more moisture over land due to warming.

Every lightning strikes around a fixed period and almost similar geographical locations in similar patterns.
As per the report, Kalbaishakhi—Norwesters, which are violent thunderstorms with lightning—claims life in eastern India; pre-monsoon lightning deaths occur mostly in Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and UP.
Lightning is an extremely localised phenomenon, and the warnings often don’t reach the last mile.
Lightning deaths were recorded higher in areas where forest cover and tree cover had reduced. If the number of trees is less, people working outside are more exposed. People working outside often run to a lone tree to take shelter underneath and are then struck by lightning
The use of electrical appliances has also increased significantly in the past 30 years — from mobile phones to TVs to power lines. Lightning can interfere with their electromagnetic field.

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