Mains Marathon

Approach:

• Start by highlighting the growing concern over lightning-related deaths and the challenges.
• In body, discuss the role of weather forecasting, the gaps in public awareness, and the lack of effective response mechanisms.
• Conclude suitably.

Introduction:

Lightning strikes are increasingly becoming a significant cause of weather-related fatalities in India, with 162 deaths recorded in just two months in 2025, marking a 184% rise compared to the previous year. These fatalities highlight the urgent need for better predictive measures, public awareness, and response strategies.

Body:

• Challenges in Prediction:
  • Unpredictable Nature of Lightning: Despite technological advancements, lightning remains difficult to predict accurately due to its spontaneous nature and dependence on atmospheric instability.
  • Meteorological Limitations: While systems like the Lightning Early Warning System (LEWS) exist, the lead time for predictions is often short, leading to insufficient time for preventive action.
  • Environmental Factors: Climate change has made weather patterns more volatile, intensifying the frequency of lightning, particularly in regions like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which recorded a 460% increase in deaths in April 2025.
• Challenges in Public Awareness:
  • Lack of Preparedness: The public, especially in rural areas, often lacks awareness of lightning safety measures, such as avoiding shelter under trees.
    • Many fatalities occur in areas with inadequate awareness, such as Bihar, where 98 deaths were recorded in just six days in April 2025.
  • Ineffective Communication: Despite early warning systems like SACHET, the timely dissemination of alerts and their implementation remains inconsistent.
    • People often ignore warnings due to lack of trust in the system or poor communication infrastructure in remote areas.
• Challenges in Emergency Response:
  • Insufficient Emergency Plans: Lightning-related deaths are avoidable with timely emergency responses, but there are gaps in local disaster management plans.
    • Many states fail to act on weather warnings, where warnings were ignored, resulting in massive casualties.
  • Resource Constraints: A lack of adequate infrastructure, trained personnel, and response teams to act quickly during lightning strikes exacerbates the problem.
• Measures to Mitigate Vulnerabilities:
  • Strengthening Early Warning Systems: Enhance the accuracy and reach of lightning prediction models through the integration of advanced technologies like satellite-based monitoring and data analytics.
    • Damini mobile application developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO) to provide real-time lightning alerts.
  • Public Awareness Campaigns: Conduct extensive awareness drives and community training on lightning safety, especially in rural areas, to teach people safe practices during thunderstorms.
  • Local Disaster Management Strengthening: Improve local disaster management frameworks to react swiftly to warnings, with trained personnel and adequate resources to mitigate the impact of lightning strikes.
  • Improved Communication Networks: Ensure that SACHET and similar systems are widely accessible to rural populations, ensuring that alert systems are effectively disseminated and followed.
  • Policy Interventions: Enforce the implementation of mitigation measures in high-risk areas, like the Mitigation Project on Lightning Safety, which is being implemented in 10 states including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Conclusion:

While lightning strikes are natural phenomena, their devastating impact can be mitigated with improved prediction systems, public awareness, and response mechanisms. By investing in disaster-resilient infrastructure, strengthening early warning systems, and fostering community preparedness, India can significantly reduce lightning-related fatalities and build resilience to future climate-related hazards.