Odisha, country’s ‘lightning graveyard’

Odisha after occupying the dubious tag of country’s ‘lightning graveyard’ for four consecutive years, for first time in 2018 finished second in the country as it recorded around 150 deaths till July end.

However, the rider is as Odisha witnessed intense thunder squalls from September to mid-October, the perils of lightning strike are still alive.

On the contrary, north, central, north-eastern and north-western India would not witness any such thunderous activity post-monsoon season.

According to IMD data, Odisha with 408 lightning deaths during period from April 8 to October 14, 2017 topped the country in lightning deaths. Odisha alone accounted for over 54 per cent of country’s lightning deaths in 2017. But during April –July 2018, Odisha witnessed around 150 lightning deaths to finish second after UP with 252 deaths.

In 2017, the State recorded almost two deaths every day during the period from mid-April to October. Death rate in 2018 was estimated at 3 in every two days. Significant fact is in May-June 2017, Odisha recorded whopping 173 casualties vis-a-vis only 97 deaths in May – June 2018.

The reason could be high level of awareness created by State Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Office this year.

But the worry for Odisha is lightning deaths were reported from a whopping 25 districts. SRC data reveals that historically most deaths were from northern and north-coastal Odisha like Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Baleswar, Jajpur, Khordha, Puri, Ganjam and Nayagarh. But western Odisha districts  like Bargarh, Balangir and Sundargarh have contributed significantly to lightning toll in the State in 2017and 2018.

Noteworthy here is since 2015 the State has been witnessing most lightning deaths in main monsoon months of June and July vis-à-vis historical trend of recording around 85 per cent of lightning deaths during months of April, May, August and September only. In 2017 and 2018, monsoon months of June and July have cornered a whopping 60 per cent of such casualties.

Why Odisha is witnessing high lightning phenomenon in monsoon months? According to IMD Bhubaneswar Director H R Biswas, when mean day temperature gets higher, then there would be atmospheric pressure.

This then triggers rainfall over a landscape, provided moisture level in upper atmosphere is sufficient to aid rainfall. But when mean day temperature gets abnormally higher, it then would result in steep fall in atmospheric pressure. And sufficient moisture level at upper atmosphere during such abnormal high-low season seeds thunder squalls. Such high-low extremes happen between 10 am and 7am, he added.

Data shows Odisha recorded nearly 95 per cent deaths during 12 pm – 5 pm, and almost 50 per cent deaths occurred post passing of thunderstorm. It needs reminding that lightning can strike more than 10miles away from any rainfall.

As per US based NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric and Administration), to stay safe people can use the flash-bang method to estimate distance of thunderstorm. Count the number of seconds between flash and sound, and divide that number by five. The resultant number shows the number of miles thunderstorm is away from you. If sound is heard soon after flash, storm is near you. Also, it asked to wait indoor for 30 minutes post the last clap of thunder.