Lightning Killed Many

• 25 Sep 2024

Why in News?

Recently, a devastating lightning strike in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon claimed the lives of several people, including children, during heavy rainfall.

Key Points

• Lightening in India:
  • 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.
    • The system provides forecasts ranging from five days to as close as three hours before the occurrence of lightning.
• Lightning Fatalities: Statistics and Trends
  • National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Data: In 2021, lightning accounted for 2,880 deaths, comprising 40% of all accidental deaths caused by "forces of nature."
    • The trend indicates an increase in lightning-related fatalities compared to other natural events.
• Geographical Distribution in India:
  • Lightning frequency is highest in northeastern states and West Bengal, Sikkim, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Bihar.
    • However, the number of lightning-related deaths is higher in central Indian states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.
  • Bihar is one of the most vulnerable states to lightning strikes, with a significant number of deaths reported annually.
    • In 2023, till July 6, Bihar recorded 107 deaths due to lightning.
• Union Government's View About Lightning:
  • The Union government opposes declaring lightning a natural disaster. The government believes that education and awareness can help prevent lightning-related deaths effectively.

Possible Factors Behind the Increasing Trend of Lightning Strikes

• Climate Change: Global warming and climate change could potentially influence atmospheric conditions, leading to an increase in thunderstorms and lightning activity.
  • As the planet's temperature rises, there may be changes in the distribution of moisture, instability, and convective processes that could favor more frequent lightning occurrences.
  • Kalbaisakhi is a localised thunderstorm occurrence that is accompanied by lightning, typically observed during the pre-monsoon season in the Indian subcontinent.
• Urbanization: The expansion of urban areas can create what is known as the "urban heat island effect."
  • Cities tend to be warmer than surrounding rural areas due to increased human activity, energy consumption, and impervious surfaces.
  • These localized heat islands may lead to the formation of more thunderstorms and, consequently, an increase in lightning strikes.
• Land Use Changes: Deforestation, changes in agricultural practices, and alterations of natural landscapes may disrupt local atmospheric conditions.
  • Such changes might contribute to the development of thunderstorms and, consequently, more lightning.
• Pollution and Aerosols: Air pollution, including aerosols and particulate matter, can affect cloud formation and electrical activity within storms.
  • Anthropogenic emissions might influence the frequency and intensity of thunderstorms, potentially leading to more lightning strikes.