Odisha recorded 1,625 deaths due to lightning strikes over the past five years, with the highest fatalities reported in tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj district (151 deaths), followed by Ganjam district (114 deaths).
The state experiences more than 6 lakh lightning strikes annually, with Mayurbhanj district witnessing the highest number (4.31 lakh strikes), followed by Sundargarh and Keonjhar districts, making Odisha highly vulnerable.
Odisha declared lightning a state-specific disaster in 2015, providing Rs 4 lakh compensation for each lightning-related death, as it remains unclassified as a natural disaster by the central government.
Odisha offers Rs 16,000 for hospital stays longer than a week due to lightning injuries and Rs 5,400 for stays under a week, aiming to support victims beyond fatal incidents.
Districts like Ganjam, Angul, Sambalpur, and Balasore witnessed more than one lakh lightning strikes each over the past six years, highlighting the widespread occurrence of lightning across the state.
The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) provides early lightning warnings through the Satark mobile app, developed with real-time data support from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).
Palm tree plantations have been introduced to mitigate lightning strike impacts, with the Odisha government allocating Rs 7 crore to the Forest Department for the tree plantation initiative across vulnerable areas.
The Odisha government is actively raising public awareness about lightning risks, employing educational campaigns alongside technical measures, ensuring better preparedness and response to lightning strikes across the state.
{{ primary_category.name }}