Met department issues lightning and thunderstorm warning

PUNE: The Met department has issued thunderstorm accompanied by gusty winds and lightning alert for isolated places in Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada, including Pune, for some days till April 16.



The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), too, has issued a similar alert for some parts of the country, including these two regions.

Officials stated that people in the outskirts and villages should take special measures to safeguard themselves from lightning strikes. NDMA has suggested safety measures such as removal of dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage during a severe thunderstorm, postponing outdoor activities and following the 30/30 Lightning Safety Rule, among others.

An IITM study had earlier shown that 86% of the total lightning-related deaths in Maharashtra involved people working in the fields.

Anupam Kashyapi, head of weather, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Pune, told TOI that the interaction between south-easterlies and north-westerlies, which was likely to bring some rain in parts of the state, had started partially.

“The north-south trough line, which will aid the process, is likely to persist from southern parts of Madhya Pradesh, via Vidarbha, south Maharashtra, interior Karnataka to even Kerala region in the coming days. Moreover, there is a chance of formation of an upper air cyclonic circulation in Maharashtra and its adjacent areas. Both these factors will aid in more moisture incursion, bringing rain in isolated places over the state,” said Kashyapi.

He said there were chances of a cyclonic circulation developing over Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada around April 14-15. This system will also help in bringing rain in isolated areas.

“Thus, the possibility of rain in Pune on April 15-16 is very likely, the probability is almost 51-75%. We have, therefore, predicted partly cloudy skies and thunderstorm with gusty winds at isolated places in Pune towards afternoon from April 12 to 16,” he said.

Thunderstorm and lightning alerts have been issued by IMD for Madhya Maharashtra on April 12,13 and 15, for Marathwada on April 12, 13, 14 and 15, and for Vidarbha on April 11 and 15, with possibility of hailstorm at one to two places in Vidarbha and adjoining areas of Marathwada on April 14 and 15.

Kashyapi said it was dangerous to be out in the open during the lightning activity. Standing under a tree during this time is also dangerous.

“It is best to move indoors before the lightning activity starts. This is true, especially for farmers and other field workers in villages,” he said.