Lightning deaths on rise: 1,256 in last 3 yrs

Lightning has turned out to be a major disaster in Odisha. Hapless rural poor, mostly farmers and agricultural workers, are facing the wrath of this natural calamity at an alarming regularity.

The total number of reported deaths due to different disasters in the State during last three years from 2015-16 to 2017-18 is 4,689. On an average, 419 deaths occur per annum and the mortality figure is on the rise causing concern for the State administration.

Out of the deaths due to various natural disasters, the number relating to lightning accounted for about 27 per cent.

The latest report on lightning-related casualties prepared by the Special Relief Organisation (SRO) reveals that as many as 1,256 deaths occurred during the three years from 2015-16 to 2017-18.

While in 2015-16, at least 399 people were killed in lightning, in 2016-17, the number was 397 and in 2017-18 it was 460, totalling 1,256 in three years. Looking at this rising number of deaths including those of the bread earning people of the families, lightning has been declared as a ‘State-Specific Disaster’ by the Government, said Disaster Management Secretary and Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi.

He said ex-gratia at the rate of Rs 4 lakh is being paid to the next of kin of the deceased from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Prior to this, ex-gratia for death due to lightning was being paid from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

While lightning deaths are occurring in all 30 districts, Mayurbhanj tops the list. The highest 130 deaths took place in Mayurbhanj district followed by 95 in Baleswar and 89 in both Ganjam and Keonjhar districts during the last three years. More than 30 deaths occurred in 18 districts in these years.

Block-wise, the highest 18 deaths occurred in Bhadrak block of Bhadrak district followed by 17 in Remuna block of Baleswar district and 15 both in Jaleswar block of Baleswar district and Keonjhar block of Keonjhar district. In 272 blocks, the death toll remained less than 10. There is no report of death due to lightning from the remaining 21 blocks.

Most of the lightning deaths occurred during the months from May to September. As many as 1,069 deaths, more than 85 per cent, occurred during May (209), June (231), July (264), August (192) and September (173). Less number of deaths occurred in the months of April (89) and October (62) compared to the above months.

There is almost no casualty due to lightning in the months of November, December, January and February. However, in a rare case, nine people had died in February 2016.