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Global Warming Sparks Deadly Lightning Surge in India
5 Aug
Summary
- Lightning has killed at least 14 people in one day in eastern India.
- Farm workers are most vulnerable during the monsoon season.
- Global warming is linked to increased lightning activity across India.
Lightning has claimed at least 14 lives in a single day in eastern India, primarily impacting farm workers caught in fields during the ongoing monsoon. This deadly weather hazard has seen a significant increase in fatalities, with national records indicating over 100,000 deaths since 1967.
Scientists attribute the rise in lightning incidents to global warming, which enhances storm cloud development and energy release. States like Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh are among the most affected regions, experiencing hundreds of lightning-related deaths annually.
The current monsoon season has been particularly destructive, with floods and landslides also causing numerous fatalities across different parts of India. Efforts to mitigate these risks include early warning systems, but their effectiveness is limited in rural areas with poor network coverage and lack of safe shelters.
