What Makes Madhya Pradesh Vulnerable to Lightning Flashes, and Deaths?

Madhya Pradesh has become India's lightning capital, recording an alarming 442 deaths annually from lightning strikes. This natural disaster claims more lives than floods, heat strokes, and cold waves combined in the state.

The numbers paint a grim picture. In 2022, while heat stroke killed 27 people, cold stroke claimed 24 lives, and floods took 15, lightning strikes killed 496 people in Madhya Pradesh alone. The India Meteorological Department recorded 987,095 lightning flashes in the state during 2022-23, the highest in the country.

Despite having warning systems like SACHET, Nowcast, and the Damini app, deaths continue rising. The government sends direct messages to people's phones with forecast information, but there's clearly a gap between preparation and ground-level delivery.

A tragic example comes from Kothri village in Sehore district, where a family lost their 20-year-old daughter to lightning. The mother was injured in the same incident. Nine months later, the family remains unaware of apps like Damini, no awareness camps have been conducted in their village, and there's no shelter within 2 kilometres of their workplace.

The injured mother, who supported her family through daily wage work, hasn't been able to work for nine months due to persistent leg pain. Despite their suffering, the family received no relief funds from the government.

The state's alert system faces multiple challenges. Madhya Pradesh has only one Doppler weather radar, but it needs at least four to adequately cover its geography and population. Rural areas lack proper mobile connectivity, digital literacy remains low, and many don't have smartphones.

Other states show improvement is possible. Odisha reduced lightning deaths by 31% by strengthening its alert system. Experts suggest building cargo container shelters in outdoor areas where people can take refuge during lightning alerts.

However, lightning strikes aren't officially recognised as natural disasters in India. Madhya Pradesh's 184-page disaster management plan doesn't mention lightning even once. While India's monitoring system appears promising, it's far from adequate on the ground. 

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