Bhubaneswar: Lightning has claimed 971 human lives in the last three years, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marndi told Assembly, Friday.
In a written reply to a question asked by BJD Legislator Souvic Biswal, the minister said the government has received 971 alleged deaths due to lightning between 2018-19 and 2020-21.
While 340 lightning death cases were reported in 2018-19, the cases increased to 357 in 2019-20. Similarly, 274 alleged lightning deaths were registered during the current financial year (so far), he said.
As per Marndi’s statement, highest 98 persons lost their lives to lightning in Mayurbhanj district during the three years, followed by Ganjam (75), Keonjhar (71), Balasore (63), Sundargarh (52), Nabarangpur (47), Dhenkanal (46) and Cuttack (44).
Gajapati district has reported the lowest six such deaths during the period. Similarly, during the three years, 27 alleged lightning deaths were registered in Angul, 38 in Bolangir, Bargarh (41), Bhadrak (21), Boudh (7), Deogarh (10), Jagatsinghpur (13), Jajpur (34), Jharsuguda (14), Kalahandi (26), Kandhamal (11), Kendrapara (36), Khurda (32), Koraput (41) and Malkangiri (14).
Besides, 16 such deaths occurred in Nayagarh district, 12 in Nuapada, 22 in Puri, 20 in Rayagada, 21 in Sambalpur and 14 in Sonepur districts, the minister stated.
Marndi further said that 50 people have been injured in 16 districts due to lightning strike since 2018-19. While 19 persons were injured in 2018-19, 13 were hurt in 2019-20 and 18 this year.
Earth Networks, an international organisation, provides early lightning warning services in more than 50 countries and also provides services to Indian states of West Bengal, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
The state government has signed agreement with Earth Networks to provide early warning on lightning. The firm has installed lightning detection sensors in eight districts — Keonjhar, Bolangir, Berhampur, Jeypore, Rourkela, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Panikoili, the minister said.
The state would be able to detect lightning from about 200 to 250 km through the sensor. Besides, the state is also getting information on lightning from such sensor installed in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.
PNN