SW Monsoon 2019 Lightning Report - Unique campaign to address climate change extremity "Lightning" - collective effort saves 1200 plus life - Full Report

Lightning is no more the biggest Killer . The rise in lightning frequencies and intensity continues but focussed approach reduces fatalities.  . Lightning Resilient India Campaign 2019 latest SW Monsoon Report reveals that  India , during South West Monsoon 2019 recorded more 90,62,546 strikes from 01 April 2019 to 30 September 2019 with Odisha and Madhya Pradesh registering 11 lakhs plus strikes during the same period. Despite significant lightning across the country in all 37 states, lightning deaths numbers have come down from 3000 plus fatalities  in 2018 to 1771 in 2019 - a reduction in number of fatalities  by 1200 plus . 

Its pertinent to mention that in India, Lightning kills more people than other disasters like flood, drought or earthquake etc.  cumulatively as is evident from  National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Report/ NDMA Guidelines on Lightning.The rising trend of lightning has increased the fatalities too which for 2018 can be estimated to more than 3000 . 

Its also pertinent to mention that the Lightning in no more the biggest killer . The collective efforts during last 08 months in year 2019 has confirmed that Lightning deaths are 100% avoidable provided there is focused approach.   Collective efforts of Lightning Resilient India Campaign not only brings down the fatalities by more than 40 %  but also brings Lightning fatalities to No 2 position  as compared to other natural disasters like  Flood with 2391 fatalities in 2019 at No1. 

Mr Nitya Nand Rai , Honble MoS , Home has confirmed that the flood in 2019 claimed 2391 life which has difference of 620 with 1771 fatalities due to Lightning . (https://skystatement.com/2391-died-over-8-lakh-houses-were-damaged-during-2019-monsoon-minister/) 

Lightning Resilient India Campaign 2019-2021 was launched on 26 march 2019 at IIT Delhi with an aim to reduce Lightning deaths by 80% in next 03 years. We had state, district and village level active campaigning by lakhs of volunteers, supported by state governments, CSOs, community and media .   Within a period of 08 months, there is an apparent reduction in fatalities  by more than 40%.  As per norms of SDRF , the next of kin of each fatal victim is paid Rs 4 lakhs as compensation by Government – thus for 1200 fatalities, its  a direct saving of compensation amount of Rs. 4000 lakhs. This is huge saving to exchequer and the money can be used in developmental activities .

   

     Dr M Rajeevan Nair, Secretary , Ministry of Earth Science applauded the efforts of Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council ( CROPC)  and India Meteorological Department and has assured all support to the Lightning Resilient India Campaign. Dr. M. Mohapatra , Director General, India Meteorological Department (IMD) congratulated CROPC for the achievement while  releasing “ SW Monsoon Lightning Report 2019” at a two days National Symposium on Lightning at Vrishti Auditorium , Mausam Bhawan Complex at New Delhi  on 07 November 2019 . Dr. Mohapatra highlighted that Lightning Resilient India Campaign firstly addresses immediate need to stop deaths due to Lightning forthwith by comprehensive actions  and the campaign had major accomplishments viz. (1)Enhanced understanding of the risk (lightning) by community, (ii) Early Warning upto Last Mile, (iii) Long term approach for climate Change adaptation to enhance environmental health, green cover, water and reduce heat. emission and pollution and (iv) National Research Programme including mapping the lightning strikes vis-à-vis its impact –  unique of its kind. Enthralled by the success, I Col Sanjay Srivastava, Convener of the  Lightning Resilient India Campaign 2019-2021 thank  the patrons Dr. K.J. Ramesh, Former DG IMD ,  Mr. P.P. Shrivastav, IAS (Retd), Mr. Anil Kumar Sinha , IAS (Retd), Prof  S.K. Dash, President India Meteorologists Society, Dr. Akhilesh Gupta , Scientist G and Head SPLICE, Department of Science and Technology, Prof. A.K. Gosain , IIT Delhi, Dr. Nivedita P. Haran, IAS(Retd) SCDR, JNU , Dr, VS Prakash, Founder Director Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Center (KSNDMC),  Dr Aditi Kapoor , Regional Advisor IFRC and Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Mr Thomas Cherian of World Vision India, Mr MK Dash of IVN  and all state Governments and CSOs for their support . Its my privilege to applaud our Volunteers – the  heart and soul of the campaign. The success has been due to them. Im indeed greatful to media  for giving a huge coverage and carrying the Lightning upto community . All India Radio, Doordarshan, Discovery , BBC and other TV National and local channels, National and regional newspapers like Indian Express, Hindu, Times of India, Hindustan Times, Hindustan, Prabhat Khabar, Dainik Bhaskar, Shillong Times, AB Patrika, Manorama and so many  for rendering  phenomenal support . All the events, research , IEC materials and knowledge  have been show cased at our website www.lightningcouncil.com  and www.cropc.in .  

           

As I share the SW Monsoon  2019 Lightning Report through this blog, I would like to apprise that we  plan for a National Lightning Conference in first week of April 2020 at New Delhi with our  new motto now - Lightning deaths are avoidable..Lets stride for  and let there be Zero Deaths due to Lightning .  I appeal all to join us more vigorously in our journey.

SW Monsoon 2019 Lightning Report - Unique campaign to address climate change extremity "Lightning" - collective effort saves 1200 plus life - Full Report