According to the Lightning Detection Network of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), lightning strikes in India increased by 53% between 2019 and 2023. In some states, the rise exceeds 300%. Lightning incidents include both inter-cloud (IC) and cloud-to-ground (CG) events, which have surged from 13.8 million in 2019-20 to 20 million in 2022-23. Scientists are particularly concerned about the rise in CG lightning strikes, as these incidents primarily result in damage to human lives and property.“Our data shows that CG lightning strikes rose from 5.16 million to 7.26 million in the past three years, which is a major concern,” stated Srivastava.Experts believe that the increase in lightning is a stark indication of climate change.“Global warming has intensified the heat, leading to a rise in sea surface temperatures and the melting of ice in the Himalayas and other mountains worldwide, which results in increased moisture in the atmosphere,”said Dr.Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology at the India Meteorological Department.Additionally, the region encompassing the central river basins of the Ganges, Sone, and Mahanadi, as well as the mountain ranges of Vindhyachal, Satpura, Kaimur, and Vidarbha, is particularly prone to lightning strikes, leading to significant casualties. Over the past two decades, 75% of fatalities occurred in just eight states, primarily located in these high-risk areas. Madhya Pradesh leads in casualties, followed by Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
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