Bhubaneswar: A total of 414 persons have died in lightning strikes in the four districts of Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, and Jajpur in the last five years from 2017 to 2021, informed Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Pramila Mallik in the Odisha Assembly.
In a written reply to a question by BJD member from Bhograi Anant Das, the Minister told the House that as many as 120 deaths occurred due to lightning in Balasore district, 176 in Mayurbhanj district, 53 in Bhadrak district and 65 in Jajpur district during the period from 2017 to 2021.
An ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each has been paid to the next of kin of those killed in lightning strikes, the Minister stated.
Highlighting the slew of measures taken by the government to save people from lightning strikes, the Minister informed that Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has signed an agreement with the international organization ‘Earth Networks’ for getting advance information on lightning strikes in the State.
Earth Networks has set up Lightning Detection Sensors at eight places in the State-Keonjhar, Bolangir, Berhampur, Jeypore, Rourkela, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Panikoili, the Minister added.
OSDMA and State Emergency Cell with the help of these sensors get information 30-40 minutes before lightning strikes via special software. Based on this information SMSes are sent to the people residing in the areas likely to be affected through Common Alert Protocol (CAP).
In addition to this information is shared through social media networks like WhatsApp, Twitter, and Facebook, Mallik explained.
The OSDMA has inked an agreement with the Thailand-based international organization Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) and developed a Mobile App ‘Satark’. Through this mobile app people are getting notifications 30-40 minutes ahead of lightning strikes, she said.
These video clips are being exhibited through various electronic media and social media. In addition to that awareness on how to protect oneself from lightning strikes is published in newspapers from time to time, she added.
Further, 2.5 lakh posters on lightning safety have been distributed to the districts, the Minister stated and added that people are being sensitized on different disasters including lightning at the community level.
