18 Chait, Kathmandu. According to the data released by the National Emergency Operations Center under the Ministry of Home Affairs, there has been a huge loss of life and property due to lightning in Nepal in the last 12 years.

According to Rajendra Sharma, senior hydrologist of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 3,386 lightning incidents have been registered across the country from the year 2070 to the end of February 2082. In which a total of 1 thousand 73 people died. Among them, 460 men, 303 women and 312 have not been identified.

3 thousand 408 people were injured by lightning. Among them, one thousand 317 are men, one thousand 633 are women. According to the center, 4 thousand 294 families were affected due to lightning. Also, 140 houses were completely damaged and 390 houses were partially damaged.

In terms of infrastructure, 114 sheds have been damaged, while 4,849 livestock sheds have been damaged. Senior hydrologist Sharma informed that according to the center, the total estimated economic loss of 118.2 million 18 thousand 260 due to the lightning incident.

Maximum 182 lightning incidents have been registered in Makwanpur during this period. Where 41 people died and 75 people were injured. Also, 300 families have been affected.

113 incidents have been registered in Jhapa, 104 in Udaipur, 105 in Dailekh and 95 in Morang. In terms of human losses, the highest number of people died in Makwanpur, 42 in Morang and 39 in Udaipur, according to the National Emergency Operations Center.

According to the Center, the impact of lightning was also noticeable in the eastern hilly district. 92 incidents have been registered in Khotang, 86 in Sankhuwasabha, and 76 in Okhaldhunga. This shows the constant risk of lightning in these areas.

It is mentioned in the details of the National Emergency Operations Center that dozens of people died in Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Parsa and other districts under Madhes province.

To the west of Nepal, 91 incidents have been registered in Rolpa, 72 in Gulmi, 72 in Pyuthan and 73 in Achham. In terms of economic damage, the highest loss of around Rs.1 crore seven lakhs has been incurred in Jhapa, while Khotang, Udaipur and Sankhuwasabha have also suffered more losses.

Meanwhile, experts have stressed the need to increase awareness and adopt protective measures as lightning incidents are more frequent during the monsoon and pre-monsoon periods.

An average of 67 deaths per year

Analyzing the data of the last three years, the data shows that 67 people die on average from lightning every year.

According to the statistics of the Ministry of Home Affairs, 70 people died and 248 people were injured in 248 incidents in 2077. In 2078, the number of incidents decreased to 203, in which 56 people died and 179 people were injured.

According to Senior Hydrologist Sharma, 290 incidents were registered in 2079, 84 people died and 238 were injured, 44 died and 228 were injured in 247 incidents in 2080, and 436 incidents in 2081 resulted in 79 deaths and 322 injuries.

He informed that during the period from May 2082 to Chaitra 14, 47 people died and 307 people were injured in 416 incidents.

What is lightning?

According to the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Handbook published by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, lightning is a large amount of electric current that flows from the clouds to the ground.

There is a risk of lightning when clouds at different heights and opposite charges come close together and a sudden flow of electricity generates a large amount of power, causing a loud noise and fire when the electric wave comes to the earth’s surface. Settlements, forest cover and geographical environment determine the occurrence and disaster risk of lightning, but basically it is an accident. Farmers, laborers and herdsmen who work in open areas have been killed due to lightning.

Damage to people’s property can be reduced by installing lightning protection technology in physical infrastructure structures such as tall buildings, schools, hospitals, shopping malls, electricity and telephone lines. -Rasus