Lightning Deaths in Jharkhand | Disaster Management & Tribal Vulnerability | UPSC Current Affairs 2025

The Issue

Deaths due to lightning strikes have now become one of the deadliest natural calamities in India. In just Jharkhand, 1,669 people were killed in the past decade, with tribal and rural communities bearing the brunt. Compared to floods and earthquakes, lightning deaths are less frequently reported and are generally not factored into policy programs.

 Why Jharkhand Is at High Risk

Geography & Climate:

It is located in the eastern part of the country and for being an eastern state it is at the risk of much convective activity during the monsoon.On the other parts, Jharkhand is an hilly place,which in turn leaves it exposed to a lot of convective activity.

Socio-economic Factors:

Tribal peoples are often employed outdoors in agriculture, forests and mining — and ultimately more vulnerable.

Absence of lightning protected shelters in rural areas.

Poor knowledge of safety procedures (kneeling, avoiding trees, avoiding open fields).

Climate Change Factor:

Climate change is causing more lightning, reports new study The research reveals that lightning strikes are increasing due to climate change, driven by higher surface temperatures, humidity and instability in the atmosphere.

 Broader National Context

Lightning kills more than 2,500 people in India every year (IMD data).

Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal are amongst the most affected states.

Deaths due to natural disasters in India, over 30% of them are lightning casualties.

 Government Measures

NDMA-Guidelines on Lightning (2019): Recommended early warning system, community awareness creation, and development of safe shelter.

IMD’s Lightning Alerts: Through SMS and mobile applications including Damini_POP.

State-Wise Compensations: Jharkhand government pays ₹4 lakh ex-gratia compensations per lightning death case.

 Challenges in Mitigation

Warnings fail to reach the last-mile in tribal belts.

Digital divide – rual networks (remote) doesnt have the ability of cell phone numbers for alerts.

Lack of public awarenesaing in regional tribal languagea.

Failure to invest in lightning-safe public structures.

 Way Forward

Public Awareness: Mass educational campaigns in tribal languages about lightning safety.

Technology Outlay: Widening reach of Damini app and using predictive artificial intelligence models.

Infrastructure: Set up lightning shelters in schools, community halls, and panchayats.

Policy Integration: Classify lightning under Disaster Management Act, 2005, as a notifiable disaster.

Research: Enhance studies of climate-lightning linkage under IMD and IITs.

UPSC Relevance

Prelims (GS Paper I):

Weather trends, lightning mechanism, IMD’s Damini app.

NDMA guidelines and Sendai Framework.

Mains (GS Paper III – Disaster Management & Climate Change): 1.

Exposure to climate-related disasters among marginalized groups.

The importance of awareness and technology in disaster prevention.

Previous Year UPSC Questions (PYQs)
Prelims

Thunderstorm Question (2013):
“During a thunderstorm, the thunder in the skies is produced by:

Meeting of cumulonimbus clouds in the sky

Lightning that separates the nimbus clouds

Violent upward movement of air and water particles”

Equatorial Climate (2015):
“The passage ‘Each day is clear, followed by heat, dark clouds, rain with thunder and lightning’ refers to which climatic region?” (Answer: Equatorial)

 Mains

Disaster Vulnerability (2019, GS-3):
“Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impacts. How can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss with reference to different types of vulnerability.”

Disaster Risk Reduction (2018, GS-3):
“Describe various measures taken in India for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) before and after signing the Sendai Framework for DRR (2015–2030).”

Conclusion

Lightning might seem a local weather event, but its growing frequency and death toll underscore the nexus of climate change, poverty, and vulnerability. For tribal communities in Jharkhand, early warning, awareness and resilient infrastructure are the best weapons to save lives.