Lightning strike and heavy rainfall killed 20 in Gujarat

Over the weekend, Gujarat experienced a tragic event where 20 people lost their lives due to lightning strikes amid unseasonal rainfall.

The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) confirmed these deaths, which occurred during the heavy unexpected rain on Sunday. The casualties were spread across various districts: Dahod (4), Bharuch (3), Tapi (2), and one each in Ahmedabad, Amreli, Banaskantha, Botad, Kheda, Mehsana, Panchmahal, Sabarkantha, Surat, Surendranagar, and Devbhumi Dwarka.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his sorrow over the incident and assured that local authorities are actively involved in relief and rescue operations. He conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims in a post on X (formerly Twitter) and prayed for the quick recovery of the injured.

SEOC data revealed that districts like Surat, Surendranagar, Kheda, Tapi, Bharuch, and Amreli received 50-117 mm of rainfall within 16 hours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts a gradual decrease in rainfall from Monday onwards.

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), rainfall was observed in 234 out of the 252 talukas in Gujarat on Sunday. Some districts, including Surat, Surendranagar, Kheda, Tapi, Bharuch, and Amreli, experienced heavy rainfall. The rainfall in these areas ranged from 50 to 117 mm, all within a short span of 16 hours.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid condolences to the families of the victims and said the local administration was engaged in relief work.

"I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of many people due to bad weather and lightning in various cities of Gujarat. I express my deepest condolences for the irreparable loss to those who lost their loved ones in this tragedy. The local administration is engaged in relief work, praying for the speedy recovery of the injured," Mr Shah wrote in Gujarati on X. 

Raising awareness as lightning risk grows

Climate scientists around the globe are warning about the potential increase in lightning strikes due to global warming, and the subsequent rise in related disasters such as wildfires.

Canada, for instance, is preparing for its most severe wildfire season ever. In 2023 alone, wildfires have already consumed over 3.3 million hectares, with Quebec being the most affected due to numerous fires sparked by lightning.

A study from India, published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics in 2021, predicts that by the end of this century, the frequency of lightning could increase by 10% to 25%, and its intensity could surge by 15% to 50%.

Compared to developed countries, India experiences a significantly higher number of human casualties from lightning. According to a 2016 study by Vaisala, a Finnish weather and environmental products company, the lightning mortality rate in India is about two per million people annually, while in countries like the US and Australia, it’s 0.1 per million.

Dr. Rohit Chakraborty of the Divecha Centre for Climate Change suggests that India could learn from the US, where the implementation of safety campaigns, easy access to weather information, and research into the causes of lightning casualties have greatly reduced the number of deaths in recent years

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