The new executive team member and staff of Caritas India attended the sixth annual lightning conference to create coping mechanisms and actions at different levels.

The conference, themed “Lightning Safe Shelter for All,” was hosted by the Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council (CROPC) at the Institute of Social Science, New Delhi on 28 June 2024. Distinguished guests, experts, scientists, research scholars, and students were invited to discuss critical topics of rural lightning protection, early warning dissemination, and community awareness, with a special focus on farmers who constitute over 75% of lightning casualties.

Caritas India has been at the forefront of this issue, collaborating with CROPC and other key organizations for a comprehensive lightning study aimed at reducing mortality rates due to lightning strikes. This study, conducted in partnership with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Ministry of Earth Science, State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), selected gram panchayats, communities, academia, and media, seeks to address the growing concern of lightning-related fatalities.

The conference shed light on the increasing number of lightning deaths and casualties, an issue that has not received adequate attention in government disaster management plans. Experts at the conference emphasized that global warming is a significant factor contributing to the rise in lightning strikes. Hotter temperatures combined with rain lead to more intense thunderstorms and, consequently, more lightning incidents.

Recent data from the Lightning Direction Network (LDN) of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Ministry of Earth Science (MoES), National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have shown a continuous rise in lightning strikes in India. The Annual Lightning Report 2023 highlights a 53% increase in cloud-to-ground lightning flashes from 2019 to 2023. States like Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra have been most affected, with some states experiencing a rise of more than 300% in lightning mortalities.

In response to this alarming trend, Caritas India joined the collaborative initiative known as “The Lightning Resilient India Campaign,” aiming to reduce lightning deaths by 80% within three years. The campaign adopts a two-pronged strategy: immediate implementation of an aggressive lightning safety program and long-term adaptation to climate change in partnership with communities, states, and institutions.
As part of its efforts, Caritas India has installed low-cost lightning conductor devices in selected program villages in the Nawada district of Bihar. Furthermore, the organization has engaged in awareness events, reaching over 300,000 people, and has made significant progress in stakeholder engagement, policy interventions, prevention solutions, and awareness.

The conference featured several sessions, including “Lightning Safe Shelter for All – Lightning Protection for Rural India,” “Early Warning for All – Last Mile Dissemination and SoP,” and “Socio-Economic Road Map to Prevent Lightning Deaths.” These sessions focused on capacity building and community awareness programs at the state, district, and gram panchayat levels.

During the event, the joint study report from CROPC and Caritas India was presented, outlining the study’s conclusions and future directions for the Lightning Resilient Framework. Father Antony Fernandes, Associate Director of Caritas India, presented the lightning-resistant study books to government stakeholders. Dr. Jaison Varghese discussed the frameworks for lightning resilience and the way forward for joint studies.

Prominent experts in disaster management from NDMA, NIDM, IMD, and CROPC facilitated the conference discussions and plenary sessions, emphasizing the need for a concerted effort to mitigate the impact of lightning strikes in India.