How Odisha plans to counter lightning strikes via palm trees
The government of Odisha has greenlit a proposal to plant 19 lakh (1.9 million) palm trees in an effort to mitigate the rising deaths from lightning strikes in the state. The state recognized lightning strikes as a specific disaster in 2015, and since then, there has been a significant increase in related deaths. In the past 11 years, lightning strikes have claimed the lives of 3,790 individuals, with 791 of these fatalities occurring within the last three fiscal years.
Deaths due to lightning strikes
The Special Relief Commissioner's office reported that 282 people died due to lightning strikes in the fiscal year 2021-22, followed by 297 deaths in 2022-23, and 212 in 2023-24. The districts most affected by these fatalities include Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Koraput and Nabarangpur. Since recognizing lightning as a state-specific disaster in 2015, the Odisha government has been providing an ex gratia of ₹4 lakh for each lightning-related death.
Odisha's geographical vulnerability
Odisha's geographical location and climate make it particularly prone to lightning strikes. As an eastern coastal state in the tropical zone, its hot and dry climate creates ideal conditions for lightning strikes. The Annual Lightning Report 2023-2024 by the Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council (CROPC) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirms that most cloud-to-lightning (CG) strikes occur in eastern and central India.
Role of climate change
A research paper by the IMD titled "Climate Change and Incidence of Lightning in Odisha: An Exploratory Research" reveals that climate change is intensifying lightning strikes. The paper states that for every one degree Celsius of long-term warming, there is a nearly 10% increase in lightning activity. Tempratures have been on the rise worldwide, specially over the last couple of years.
Odisha's climatic factors
Manoranjan Mishra, a geography professor at Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, explains that Odisha's susceptibility to lightning strikes is due to a "complex combination of climatic factors." These factors "influence the occurrence of lightning including pre-monsoon and monsoon period, cyclonic activities influenced by sea temperature and the convective energy of the atmosphere," he said.
Who are the most vulnerable
Farmers and daily wage earners, such as agricultural laborers, who constitute over 80% of Odisha's population, are the most at risk from lightning strikes. These people often work long hours in open fields, making them particularly vulnerable. While lightning strikes are most frequent between April and October, the majority of fatalities occur during the peak agriculture season from June to October.
Odisha's natural defense against lightning strikes
To address this issue, the Odisha government plans to utilize palm trees as natural lightning conductors. Palm trees, due to their high moisture and sap content, can absorb lightning and reduce its direct impact on the ground. The Special Relief Commissioner's office has approved ₹7 crore for this initiative, which includes a ban on felling existing palm trees and an initial planting of 19 lakh (1.9 million) palm trees along forest boundaries.
