The State Government has decided to establish an automated “outdoor alerting siren system” for quick dissemination of warning of lightning among people in the State.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) MD Bishnupada Sethi said that the Earth Networks, USA will establish the outdoor lightning alerting system in 14 most lighting-prone blocks on a pilot basis.
Those blocks are Bhadrak, Remuna, Jaleswar, Bhograi, Keonjhar, Thakurmunda, Athagarh, Tangi-Choudwar, Suliapada, Chandbali, Ghasipura, Tangi, Kodinga and Sundargarh.
Among natural calamities, the lightning takes the highest average of 400 lives in Odisha every year. It is recorded that the total number of deaths due to lightning during the last three years from 2015-16 to 2017-18 was 1,256, accounting for 27 per cent of total number of disaster deaths.
In view of this, the OSDMA has collaborated with the Earth Networks to install lightning detection systems in the State. Six lightning detection sensors have been installed at different locations to cover the entire State. The system gives prediction of the lightning about 30-45 minutes in advance.
Though lightning warnings are available just 30 minute before the incident, it is necessary to adopt better strategy for dissemination of warning to the general public within a shortest possible time. The ‘outdoor alerting siren system’ is a patented design. The system provides 360 degrees of audible and visual coverage with high decibel horns and strobe lights, ensuring attention getting signals and maximum coverage. The siren sound can be audible up to a distance of one kilometre radius.