80 people were killed in 72 hours due to thunderstorms and lightning across Bihar.

• Recurring Pattern: Bihar has witnessed a recurring pattern of deadly natural disasters, with over 90 deaths in a similar event in June 2020. 
• Pre Monsoon Occurrence: In regions like Bihar, thunderstorms are common during the pre-monsoon and early monsoon months (April to June) and can be especially deadly when accompanied by lightning and squall winds.
• National Crime Records Bureau Data: Bihar ranks second in the country in terms of lightning-related fatalities, with the National Crime Records Bureau reporting that lightning accounts for nearly 39% of deaths from natural disasters across India.
  • On average, the state records around 250 natural disaster-related deaths each year.

About Lightning

• Lightning is a natural electrical discharge during storms, occurring when charged particles in the atmosphere build up and release energy. 
  • This release produces a flash of light (lightning) and the associated thunder caused by rapidly expanding air.
• Formation: Lightning forms when positively and negatively charged particles in the atmosphere or within clouds create an imbalance. 
  • When the difference is large enough, a discharge occurs.
• Types: The most common types are cloud-to-ground, cloud-to-cloud, and intra-cloud lightning.
• Impact: Lightning can cause fires, power outages, structural damage, and fatalities, especially in lightning-prone areas.
• Centre Government’s View About Lightning: Lightning not classified as a natural disaster.

Factors Contributing to Bihar’s High Vulnerability to Lightning

• Climate and Terrain: Bihar’s humid subtropical climate, marked by high temperatures and monsoonal rains, promotes thundercloud formation. 
  • Its flat plains and proximity to the Himalayas amplify storm activity, as cold mountain winds collide with warm, moist air from the lowlands.
  • Moisture influx from the east is intensifying lightning activity.
• Rural Exposure: With a largely rural population dependent on agriculture, many people are exposed while working in open fields during storms. 
• Lack of Protection: Villages often lack tall buildings, lightning rods, or sufficient shelter, increasing vulnerability.
• Low Awareness: Villagers often ignore official warnings despite large-scale alert systems (12 crore SMS alerts sent).
• Moist Soil and Water Bodies: The abundance of rivers and wetlands keeps Bihar’s soil moist, which boosts electrical conductivity and the chances of ground strikes during lightning events.
• Impact of Climate Change: Shifting weather patterns, rising temperatures, and erratic wind flows have contributed to a rise in severe weather incidents, including lightning strikes.

Steps Taken to Prevent Lightning-Related Deaths in India

• Early Warning System: India has developed an advanced lightning early warning system.
  • Forecasts are available 3 hours to 5 days in advance, enabling timely alerts.
  • India is among the only five countries globally with such capability.
• LIghtning Location Networks: Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune has established a lightning location network strategically installed at 83 places in the country to detect and locate lightning strikes with utmost accuracy.
• Damini App: The Damini app provides real-time lightning alerts based on GPS and user location. 
  • It warns users when lightning is within 20–40 km of their location. 
  • It also  offers 40-minute advance warnings, along with safety instructions for lightning-prone areas. 
• State Lightning Action Plans: States are being encouraged to formulate and implement Lightning Action Plans similar to heat action plans.
• Lightning Resilient India Campaign:  is a community-centric outreach programme launched by the Climate Resilient Observing-Systems Promotion Council (CROPC). 
  • It is supported by key stakeholders like National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and the Indian Meteorological Society.
• Public Awareness and Education: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) runs campaigns through TV (Doordarshan) and Radio (All India Radio) for awareness generation among masses on ‘Thunderstorm & Lightning’.
  • Example: Simple behavioural changes, like avoiding open fields during storms, are encouraged.

Way Forward

• Official Recognition as a Natural Disaster: Classifying lightning as a natural disaster under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 can ensure better funding, preparedness, and response mechanisms.
• Strengthen last-mile communication: by leveraging local governance bodies, panchayats, and community networks so that farmers, fishermen, outdoor workers etc are able to act on alerts.
• Lightning Atlas & Hotspot Mapping: Developing a Lightning Atlas with hotspot mapping will help identify high-risk areas, enabling targeted awareness programs, better resource allocation, and infrastructure resilience

Conclusion

Strengthening awareness campaigns, resilient infrastructure, and real-time localized alerts is critical to saving lives. While lightning events may reduce post-monsoon, proactive long-term planning remains essential in a changing climate.

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