Lightning not a Natural Disaster: Centre

What is the News?: The Union Government opposes declaring lightning as a natural disaster, emphasizing the importance of awareness and safety measures.

What is lightning?

It is the natural process of “an electrical discharge of very little duration and high voltage between a cloud and the ground or within a cloud,” accompanied by a bright flash, a loud sound, and occasionally thunderstorms.
There are three categories of lightning–
Intracloud (IC), which is flashes within a cloud
Cloud to cloud (CC), where lightning jumps from one cloud to another
Cloud to ground (CG), where lightning strikes from the ground. This is the most well understood kind of strike and the riskiest to life.

Lightning Strikes in India

The number of lightning-related deaths has increased in recent years, according to the NCRB.
In 2021, a total of 2,880 people lost their lives due to lightning strikes. This accounted for approximately 40% of all accidental deaths caused by “forces of nature.”
The proportion of deaths caused by lightning has increased compared to previous years, with 2,862 deaths in 2020 and 2,876 deaths in 2019.
The increasing proportion of lightning-related fatalities is a cause for concern compared to other natural accidents.
In 2003, deaths resulting from lightning strikes accounted for only 0.2% of the total deaths caused by forces of nature.

Is Lightning categorized as a Natural Disaster in India?

Currently, lightning is not categorized as a natural disaster in India.
Several states have requested the inclusion of lightning deaths as a natural disaster.
Recognition of lightning deaths as a natural disaster enables victims to access compensation from the SDRF.
The central government contributes 75% of the funds to the SDRF.
The SDRF includes coverage for various disasters, including cyclones, earthquakes, floods, fires, and more.

Mitigating Lightning Incidents

Early Warning System: India has established an early warning system for lightning, saving numerous lives.
Focus on Rural Areas: Mitigation and awareness programs should focus on rural areas where over 96% of lightning deaths occur.
Deployment of Protection Devices: Low-cost lightning protection devices need to be deployed more widely, especially in rural areas.
Lightning Action Plans: States should create lightning action plans to mitigate risks, similar to heat action plans.
International Centre for Excellence: An international center for lightning research is being established to improve detection and early warning systems.

FAQs Related with Lightning

Ques 1: Is lightning considered a natural disaster in India?

Answer: No, currently lightning is not categorized as a natural disaster in India.

Ques 2: What are the demands regarding lightning deaths in India?

Answer:States demand lightning deaths to be covered as a natural disaster for victim compensation from SDRF.

Ques 3: What disasters are currently covered under the SDRF in India?

Answer: SDRF covers cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, fires, floods, tsunamis, hailstorms, landslides, avalanches, cloudbursts, pest attacks, frost, and cold waves.

Lightning not a Natural Disaster: Centre,Lightning not a Natural Disaster: Centre