Lightning

18 Jul 2023

Context:

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in the year 2021, as many as 2,880 people died due to lightning. The deaths comprised 40% of all accidental deaths caused by “forces of nature”.

India’s Lightning Early Warning System:

India has an early warning system for lightning, making it one of only five countries worldwide with such a system.
The forecast provided by the system ranges from five days to as little as three hours, helping to mitigate the impact of lightning strikes.

Demand for Lightning Deaths to be Covered as Natural Disasters:

Some Indian states, including Bihar and West Bengal, are advocating for lightning-related deaths to be classified as natural disasters.
If approved, victims would be eligible for compensation from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), which receives a significant portion of its funding from the central government.

Current Coverage Under SDRF:

The present norms of the SDRF cover disasters such as cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, fires, floods, tsunamis, hailstorms, landslides, avalanches, cloudbursts, pest attacks, frost, and cold waves.

Vulnerability of Bihar to Lightning Strikes:

Bihar’s Disaster Management Minister stated that Bihar is one of the most vulnerable states to lightning strikes.
Climate change may be a contributing factor to the increase in lightning-related deaths, with over 1,500 fatalities in the past five years and more than 100 deaths occurring on a single day in June 2020.

Additional Information:

About State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF):

Constitution and Purpose:
- The SDRF is established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
- It serves as the primary fund available to state governments for responding to notified disasters.
Funding:
- The central government contributes 75% of the SDRF allocation for general category states and Union Territories (UTs).
- Special category states and UTs receive over 90% contribution from the central government.
- The funds are released by the central government in two equal installments based on the recommendations of the Finance Commission.
Supplementation by National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF):
- The NDRF, also established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, complements the SDRF.
- In the event of a severe disaster where adequate funds are not available in the SDRF, the NDRF provides additional support to the affected state.