Did you know 17 people have been killed by lightning over the last two days in various parts of different states?
- Lightning is a very rapid and massive discharge of electrification in the atmosphere, some of which is directed toward the earth’s surface.
- The discharges are generated in giant moisture-bearing clouds that are 10-12 km tall and temperatures at the top of these clouds are in the range of -35° to-45°C.
Lightning is not classified as a natural disaster in India.
Initiatives
- India Meteorological Department issues forecast and warning thunderstorms and associated weather phenomena five days in advance.
- Damini lightning app by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (ITM) Pune for monitoring all lighting activity.
- National Disaster Management Authority advisory to state government and UTs like:
- Mapping lightning-affected zones based on data of deaths and data of lightning incidence.
- Effective Early Warning System, inter-agency coordination and communication, capacity building and training, etc.