Odisha has been the most lightning-resilient State in the country with highest lightning strike counts of more than 9 lakh but resulting in only 129 human casualties.

 Thanks to initiative taken by the Odisha Disaster Management Authority to inform people beforehand, human deaths have been under control.

OSDMA MD Bishnupada Sethi pointed out that the OSDMA started informing people with SMS and SATARK App before lightning strike, which saved lives.

While total lightning strikes in India during ( April 1 to July 31) was 64,55,540, the most lightning prone State Odisha faced 9, 00, 296 strikes.

Uttar Pradesh tops the list with 224 deaths despite receiving one third lightning strikes as compared to Odisha. Odisha tops the lightning flashes list with 9 lakh strikes in last 4 months. And the OSDMA has chalked out plans to reduce the deaths drastically, said a senior officer.

Odisha and Karnataka are found to be most resilient States, revealed the Mid-Monsoon 2019 Lightning Report prepared by Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council ( CROPC)

The report reveals that maximum strike day was June 2 2019 with 2,19, 000 strikes and most lightning prone month was June 2019 with 26,14,841 strikes

And the State with maximum lightning deaths was Uttar Pradesh with 224 and most lightning prone district in India was East Singhbhum with 2, 00, 123 flashes

Maximum deaths reported in 24 hours April 15-16 were 89 deaths in Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra and Gujrat. The management of lightning data and situation report was the best in Odisha and Karnataka.

Lightning strikes’ scientific mapping vis a vis impact analysis has been undertaken for the first time in India with the help of lightning detection sensors held with the Indian Institute of Tropical Management , Pune and the lightning flashes data available through Indian Meteorological Department and other satellites.

IMD’s unique product of 24 hours advance lightning and thunderstorm forecast has been hallmark followed by nowcast providing 2-4 hours of advance warning which is actionable. This has given much more lead time to community, States Governments and other stakeholders to respond and save life. The impact of same is visible due to reduction in fatalities in States like Odisha and others. Lightning Resilient India Campaign carrying the Lightning EW from IMD to States and to community at last mile has observed very encouraging participation from Karnataka, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand and north eastern States.

In these States, despite increase in lightning strikes, the casualties are less as compared to previous years.

The OSDMA has tied up with the USA based Earth Networks and installed lightning detection sensors to get alerts one hour before. The information is shared with the likely affected people through SMS, electronic channels and social media very effectively.

Lightning arresters have been installed in all multipurpose cyclone shelters to protect the evacuees. A comprehensive lightning related education is imparted through text book lessons, familiarisation exercises undertaken by ODRAF, school safety programmes, said SRC and OSDMA MD Sethi.