Lightning Strikes Took Over 2,500 Lives in 2023: NCRB Data

Syllabus: GS3/ Disaster Management

Context

• As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India, lightning was responsible for the highest number of deaths in 2023, accounting for 39.7% of the 6,444 deaths attributed to ‘forces of nature’.

About

• In the last few years, lightning has emerged as a new climate challenge for India, which has seen a 400 per cent rise in lightning strikes from 2019-20 to 2024-25. 
• Under lightning strikes, Madhya Pradesh (397), Bihar (345), Odisha (294), Uttar Pradesh (287), and Jharkhand (194) were the biggest victim states/Union Territories (UTs).
• Disaster Management Act, 2005 defines “disaster” broadly but does not specifically list lightning as a centrally notified disaster.
  • The union government has resisted demands to classify it as a disaster, arguing that most deaths could be prevented through public awareness and safety measures.

State/UT wise deaths due to forces of nature during 2023

What is lightning?

• Lightning is an electrical discharge between charged particles in a cloud and the ground.
• Although air normally acts as an electrical insulator, when the voltage reaches about 3 million volts per meter (V/m), the air’s insulating properties break down, allowing a powerful electric current to pass through.
• This results in a sudden release of energy, creating a bright flash and an associated sound wave (thunder).

Factors Responsible for Increased Incidents of Lightning in India

• Geographic and Climatic Conditions: Regions with high humidity, such as the eastern states and coastal areas, are more prone to thunderstorms and lightning.
  • The topography, including the Himalayas and the Western Ghats, also influences the frequency of lightning.
• Monsoon Dynamics: The monsoon season, with its intense rainfall and convective activity, is a major driver of lightning in India.
  • The convergence of moist air masses and the rising of warm, moist air during the monsoon season often lead to the formation of thunderstorms and lightning.
• Urbanization and Industrialization: Rapid urbanization and industrialization increase the number of artificial heat sources and aerosols in the atmosphere.
  • These enhance convection and contribute to more frequent thunderstorms, thus increasing lightning incidents.
  • Studies suggest that with every 1°C rise in temperature, there is an 8-10 percent rise in lightning strikes.
• Climate Change: Changes in global climate patterns are influencing local weather phenomena.
  • Increased temperatures and changes in humidity levels alter storm dynamics, potentially leading to more frequent and intense lightning events.
• Agricultural Practices: The burning of agricultural residues and deforestation can contribute to the accumulation of particulates in the atmosphere.
  •  These particulates affect cloud formation and increase the likelihood of thunderstorms and lightning.

Government Initiatives

• CROPC (Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council) has developed India’s first Lightning Early Warning System, aimed at predicting lightning strikes and issuing alerts.
• The mobile app SACHET was launched to alert the public about imminent lightning hazards.
• In 2020, Damini Lightning apps were developed by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM)-Pune.

Way Ahead

• Strengthening communication systems to ensure warnings reach vulnerable populations effectively.
• Training local authorities to act swiftly upon early warnings.
• Increasing public awareness about lightning safety measures, especially during pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons.
• Improving ground-level implementation of NDMA protocols to minimize fatalities.

Source: DTE