HYDERABAD: There has been an alarming spike in deaths due to lightning strikes across country between 2010 and 2020. And climate-change induced extreme weather may only trigger more deaths.
A team of researchers led by Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, Odisha, studied National Crime Records Bureau data to find that lightning caused a staggering 1,01,309 deaths between 1967 and 2020, with a sharp rise in casualties between 2010-2020.Data shows there has been a rise in average annual fatalities per state and UT from 38 during 1967-2002 to 61 between 2003-2020. The study was published in the journal, Environment, Development and Sustainability.
“Data shows that an average of 1,876 deaths are reported (in the country) annually,” said Prof Manoranjan Mishra of the university’s department of geography, who authored the study, Lightning-related Fatalities in India (1967-2020): A Detailed Overview of Patterns and Trends.
“Increased frequency and intensity of lightning strikes due to evolving climatic conditions has led to a sharp rise in fatalities in India over the years,” he told TOI.
According to the data, almost a third of the deaths – 29,804 – have taken place between 2010 and 2020. The first four decades registered 71,505 deaths. Central and northeast India account for the highest incidence of lightning deaths. Data also revealed that central India alone accounts for 50,884 (50%) deaths. Lightning, though a common natural phenomenon, is less talked about, Prof Mishra said, stressing that climate-induced extreme events were witnessing an increasing trend across India.
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