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During 2022, India faced a devastating series of thunderstorms and lightning incidents, resulting in a harrowing loss of 1,200 lives, according to a newly released "State of the Climate in Asia 2022" report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Throughout the year, thunderstorms and lightning struck various regions of India, causing tragic and untimely deaths. These natural disasters, characterized by their sudden and intense nature, posed significant challenges for disaster response and emergency services.
After floods, lightning causes another major cause of death in India. Different parts of the country witnessed thunderstorms and lightning claiming around 1200 lives in 2022. Lightning strikes in Bihar killed more than 34 people on 19–20 May. The report states that a second-record increase of 0.72 °C has been registered in the mean temperature over Asia for 2022. It was above the 1991–2020 average.
The 1991-2020 average exceeded the WMO 1961-1990 reference period for climate change by 1.68 °C. Moreover, the global rate, estimated at 0.64 W/m2, exhibits comparable warming trends with both Asian parts of the northwest Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
The loss of 1,200 lives highlights the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the impact of thunderstorms and lightning in the country. Since climate change can influence extreme weather patterns, it becomes increasingly crucial for India to strengthen its preparedness and response measures to protect communities from such calamities.
Authorities and disaster management agencies will play a critical role in implementing early warning systems, educating citizens about safety measures during thunderstorms, and developing resilient infrastructure to minimize the human cost of such natural disasters.
Asia's alarming warming trend highlighted
The report also reveals that Asia is witnessing a faster rise in temperature compared to the global average, bringing alarming implications of climate change to the forefront. According to the data, the average temperature in Asia during 2022 ranked as the second or third warmest year on record.
Comparing the average temperatures from 1991 to 2020, a concerning increase of 0.72 degrees Celsius was recorded. Furthermore, when compared to the average temperature from 1961 to 1990, the rise was even more significant, reaching 1.68 degrees Celsius.
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