LIGHTNING DISASTER (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 - Geography)

Context: Madhya Pradesh is found to be the lightning hub of India with maximum flashes of 987,095 in 2022-23 and highest deaths of 340 per year, according to the latest report on lightning.

• The fourth annual lightning report said the country recorded more than 20 million lightning strikes in 2022-23, a 60% increase in cloud-to-ground lightning from 2019-20.

Lightning  Disaster

• Lightning is a powerful and visible electrical phenomenon that takes place when there is a buildup of electrical charges within clouds and between clouds and the ground.
• The discharge of this electrical energy results in a brilliant flash of light and a rapid expansion of air, creating the characteristic thunder that accompanies lightning.
• Cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning is dangerous because it can electrocute people due to its high electric voltage and current.
• India ranks among the five countries worldwide with an early warning system for lightning.
• According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2021 data, lightning accounted for 2,880 deaths, comprising 40% of all accidental deaths caused by "forces of nature."
• Lightning frequency is highest in northeastern states and West Bengal, Sikkim, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Bihar.
• Bihar is one of the most vulnerable states to lightning strikes, with a significant number of deaths reported annually.
• The Union government opposes declaring lightning a natural disaster. The government believes that education and awareness can help prevent lightning-related deaths effectively.