Lightning strikes usually in Kerala, specialists for alert

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Lightning is a superb spectacle, however the deaths and destruction it usually leaves behind give the enormous spark a harmful picture. The atmospheric phenomenon, which used to happen within the state just for a quick time frame, is an on a regular basis sight now. The lightning-related incidents and resultant harm within the state have elevated from 3,000 to 67,000 within the final two years, based on the info compiled by the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA).

Pathanamthitta alone had near 10,000 such incidents final 12 months. A current examine mentioned Meenachil taluk in Kottayam recorded the utmost lightning in a 12 months. With lightning-related incidents on the rise, specialists name for alerts and different steps to minimise harm.“Kerala is moving into a multi-hazard-prone area, be it rain, flood or thunderstorm. Lightning is one of the major hazards, we now get it in 10 months of a year,” mentioned Abhilash S, affiliate professor, Department of Atmospheric Sciences at Cochin University. 

“Earlier the lightning period was restricted to pre-monsoon and post-monsoon period. Now even during the monsoon, we get clouds that can cause lightning. The intensity and frequency of lightning have increased,” he mentioned.As per a 2016 examine performed by the National Centre for Earth Science Studies, 71 individuals die within the state on account of lightning strikes yearly. The mortality has come down over time to 80 in 5 years, however the financial losses to individuals and sectors have solely elevated.

The state authorities had made lightning a state-specific catastrophe in 2015. The KSMDA too has come out with a Kerala State Lightning Action Plan after a lot deliberations. “The action plan is a reference guide to reduce the risk of lightning by the public, NGOs and government. It will help in creating awareness and measures to be taken to address the issue,” mentioned Fahad Marzook, hazard analyst at KSDMA. “We are planning to give accurate alerts about the arrival of a storm in a region 30 minutes in advance,” he added.