In India, climate change is driving a concerning surge in fatal lightning strikes, claiming the lives of around 1,900 individuals annually in the most populous nation on Earth, caution scientists. Lightning has resulted in a staggering 101,309 fatalities from 1967 to 2020, notably escalating between 2010 and 2020, as outlined by a team of researchers affiliated with Fakir Mohan University in Odisha, an eastern state in the country.
The findings point to a consistent rise in lightning occurrences in India, classifying it as a significant threat among natural disasters influenced by climate change. While the study focused on death toll data rather than the frequency of strikes, it highlighted the growing unpredictability of lightning activity in the region.
Statistics revealed a rise in average annual deaths per Indian state from 38 during the period of 1967 to 2002 to 61 from 2003 to 2020, coinciding with a rapid population increase to 1.4 billion people in the country. Lightning strikes are prevalent in India during the monsoon season from June to September, essential for replenishing local water resources. However, experts attribute the escalating frequency of lightning strikes to the mounting global temperatures, triggering a series of severe weather phenomena.
Elevated air temperatures lead to increased water vapor, which, upon cooling at higher altitudes, generates electric charges that initiate lightning. The substantial number of fatalities in India is also attributed to ineffective early warning systems and a lack of awareness regarding risk mitigation strategies, as stated in the report published in the international journal of Environment, Development, and Sustainability.
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