The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has released a preliminary report titled ‘End of the Monsoon Season,’ shedding light on lightning incidents across the country in 2023. According to this report, India has witnessed a total of 428 lightning activities during both the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons. Out of these, Maharashtra recorded 47 lightning incidents. However, it’s important to note that these numbers are subject to change as the IMD finalizes its report in collaboration with state authorities.
Lightning strikes are a significant atmospheric phenomenon that often results in fatalities in India. These events involve electrical discharges between the atmosphere and the ground, primarily originating in cumulonimbus clouds and striking the ground—a phenomenon known as cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning.
In India, the months of April, May, June, and July tend to experience the highest frequency of lightning strikes.
Previous reports from both the IMD and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) have indicated a rising trend in lightning events across the country.
According to the IMD’s preliminary statistics on extreme weather events, India witnessed 428 lightning incidents this year. Additionally, 544 incidents of floods and severe rains were reported, along with approximately 114 disturbances caused by heatwaves.
Bihar recorded the highest number of lightning incidents at 85, followed closely by Uttar Pradesh at 81. Jharkhand reported 65 incidents, while Maharashtra documented 47 lightning events. Notably, a significant portion of these incidents occurred in the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of Maharashtra.
In addition to lightning incidents, Maharashtra reported the second-highest number of floods and heavy rain events (69), with Himachal Pradesh topping the list with 123 such occurrences during this year’s monsoon season.
Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the Director-General of Meteorology, emphasized the increasing challenge posed by extreme weather events for the IMD. He noted that the data presented in the preliminary report will be verified with state authorities and disaster management authorities. Mortality reports are also under scrutiny, with a final draft of the report expected to be published after thorough verification.
Experts have suggested that individuals, particularly farmers working in the fields during lightning-prone periods, are more vulnerable to lightning strikes. While there are systems in place to forecast lightning events, ongoing efforts are needed to enhance the accuracy and reliability of these forecasts.
IMD authorities have been actively issuing warnings for extreme weather events and have introduced a special app called “Damini” to disseminate lightning notifications, emphasizing the importance of staying informed and safe during such weather occurrences.
