Lightning Deaths Increasing – Free PDF Download

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Lightning

A lightning strike or lightning bolt is an electric dischargebetween the atmosphere and an object.
Lightning is a very rapid and massive discharge of electricity in the atmosphere, some of which is directed towards the Earth’s surface.
These discharges are generated in giant moisture-bearing clouds that are 10-12 km tall. (mostly a cumulonimbus cloud)
The base of these clouds typically lies within 1-2 km of the Earth’s surface, while their top is 12-13 km away
The electrical potential difference between the layers of these clouds is huge — of the order of a billion to 10 billion volts.
In very little time, a massive current, of the order of 100,000 to a million amperes, starts to flow between the layers.
An enormous amount of heat is produced, and this leads to the heating of the air column between the two layers of the cloud.
This heat gives the air column a reddish appearance during lightning. As the heated air column expands, it produces shock waves that result in thunder.
A single lightning event is a “flash”, which is a complex, multi-stage process, some parts of which are not fully understood.
Most cloud to ground flashes only “strike” one physical location, referred to as a “termination”.

There is a greater probability of lightning striking tall objects such as trees, towers or buildings.
Once it is about 80-100 m from the surface, lightning tends to change course towards these taller objects.
People are most commonly struck by what are called “ground currents”.
The electrical energy, after hitting a large object (such as a tree) on Earth, spreads laterally on the ground for some distance, and people in this area receive electrical shocks.

Occurrences of lightning are not tracked in India, and there is simply not enough data for scientists to work with.
India sees 2,000-2,500 lightning deaths every year on average. Lightning is the biggest contributor to accidental deaths due to natural causes
In 2018, over 3,000 people died due to lightning strikes in the country.
Lightning remains among the least studied atmospheric phenomena in the country.
Just one group of scientists, at the Indian Institute of Tropical Management (IITM) in Pune, works full-time on thunderstorms and lightning.

Lightning strikes can produce severe injuries, and have a mortality rate of between 10% and 30% up to 80% of survivors sustaining long-term injuries.
Nerves and muscles may be directly damaged by the high voltage producing holes in their cell membranes, a process called electroporation.
Most farmers and labourers wait for the storm to pass in their open fields or seek shelter under lone trees: the worst places to be when trying to avoid lightning.

Experts claim that while western disturbances bring about rainfall, no severe thunderstorm accompanies it.
Deadly lightning bolts strike owing to local weather activities because convective clouds form, which in turn, cause lightning.

Lightning detecting sensor machines
A single lightning sensor can detect lightning activity half an hour in advance in area covering 200 km around it.
Despite the availability of such technology, in many states, there is no warning or advisory issued to the general public regarding lightning strikes

IITM (Pune) has developed a mobile app called Damini for the Bihar government’s use.
The app provides information about the locations of lightning strike 30-40 minutes in advance.
Dissemination of the information?