The Department of Disaster Management has decided to introduce chapters on lightning at school syllabus as part of creating awareness about natural disaster. Lightning is one of the biggest natural disasters in State and on an average, 130 people die every year due to natural disasters.
The Department of Disaster Management has asked National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to prepare the chapters which will be incorporated in the social science streams in class IX and X. Manish Kumar Tiwari, joint secretary, Home Prison & Disaster Management said, “After getting an approval from State Education department we have urged the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to prepare chapters on lightening. The chapter will be a part of social science stream for students studying at Government school in class IX and X.”
Tiwari said, the main focus of introducing the chapters at school syllabus is to create awareness among students about natural disaster. The chapters will focus on prevention and precaution to be taken during lightening.
The chapters will deal with correct and timely forecast of lightening, timely dissemination of lightning and awareness to be taken during natural disaster.
By year-end the department will install Doppler Radar which will help in making analysis on lightning such as when the lightning strike its detection with exact location, time, type and strength.
Tiwari said, “With location based system (LBS) we can have information where the lightning is to strike within 2 km radius. Once the location of lightning is available, the alert SMSs about lightning will be sent to all mobile subscribers within the 2 km radius.”
The SMSs will be great handy to people especially farmers and labourers as they can get information about the lightening.
The chapters will deal with what precaution people have to take during lightening. The secretary said, “Like other natural calamities people should not be panic during lightening. It is always advisable that during lightning they should remain in houses. If any person is outside than it is advisable that they should take shelter in any building rather than taking shelter under the trees.”
Lightning and death due to elephants are biggest natural disaster in Jharkhand. Due to lightning strikes 130 people have lost their lives in last one year while due to elephants crush 80 people have lost their lives.
Prior to Jharkhand Government introducing chapters on lightning, Karnataka and Kerala Government have introduced chapters on lighting.