-Debendra Karki
Earthauake, soil erosion, floods or any other naturally destructive events are considered to be major natural catastrophes, and more priority is attached to their occurrence as well. However, the government
and the public both do not seem to pay much heed to the colossal loss triggered off by the deadly natural
disaster called ‘lightning strike’ which kills not only the human beings and the animals, but also devastates
the gigantic buildings, houses, and the infrastructures of development. Surprisingly, nobody has so far
bothered much about minimizing the loss of lives and the property that it causes.
On 23rd chaitra last year, two women were struck by lightning and killed. The house belonging to
Sahabir Rajak from Praswani-1 Saptari, was struck by the lightning killing his 20 year old wife Buchidevi.
She was watching the incessant rainfall when the lightning struck on her neck and then she fell unconscious
immediately. Following her tragic death, her six month old toddler is now in dire straits.
Fifty year old wife of Mirahu Sardar from Shambhunath-6 also felt victim to the lightning strike on
the same night. That day, three people in sundarpur-6 of Udaypur also fell unconscious due to a deadly
lightning strike while the locals; Lanku Chaudhari(45), Mankumari chaudhari(17) and Archana
Chaudhari(17) were taking a shelter at shivnarayan Chaudhari’s born, the lightning struck a simal tree(a
large tree of camellia species) nearby making them all faint. Then it was raining heavily with a voilent
storm, ten people were sitting at the born to keep from the rain and three out of those ten were knotweed
unconscious by the lightning aware rushed to Dharan - based BPKIHS for the treatment.
On the same night, the lightning strike triggers off scores of fire and resulted in a heavy loss of millions
of rupees. According to data collected by Damak Police administration, the three storey tin roof building
of Narayan Bhandari from Lakhanpur was devasted by the lightning strike and the damage has been
estimated at around one million rupees. These are merely a few representative incidents that took place
in eastern part of Nepal on23 chaitra night. There were also news reports that 15 people were struck to
death by the lightning all over the nation. Thus, it created an incredibly terrible damage worth million of
rupees on one day only.
In June 2011, 18 teachers and students had been killed by the lightning strike in Uganda. Similarly,
the death toll by the lightning strike was 40 in Bangladesh in June and 23 in Darfur, Sudan in August. In
Nepal too the number of lightning victims is rising every year, and then it has not yet been termed as a
natural disaster in Nepal. In June alone, 61 people died. From 2008 till 2010, 50, 53 and 59 people
respectively took their last breath due to the terrible lightning disaster. Despite a terrible huge loss worth
billion of rupees, no any modern and scientific safety measures have been taken from such a nature’s
wrath
For the first time in Nepal, a three day international workshop on lightning safety precautions was
held in Banepa, Kavre last Asar. 80 scientists and technicians from 18 different nation were totally
flabbergasted When Dr. Chandinma Goyems; a faculty member of engineering department of Malaysia’s
Putra University, elaborated on the enormous devastation caused by the lightning strike in Uganda,
Sudan and Bangladesh. Several of those scientists were compelled to ask themselves why the world is
unaware of such a deadly disaster even though the death toll is growing rapidly every year. It is, in fact,
a major question that has remained unanswered and unresolved.
Many people had realized that it was unnecessary to pile pressure on the government and the other
stakeholders to make a proper directive and policy on reducing the effects of the lightning strike. The
participants conclude that the collective Endeavour was mandatory as the right to be safe from the natural
calamity was a subject of concern for everyone. In spite of such concrete conclusion, no any research or
study on the lightning was carried out and made it are losing their precious lives in vain.
What is a lightning strike?
The lightning strikes when there is a thunder- cloud in the sky. In fact, the lightning is a process of
electric generation when the positive and negative currents of clouds have the friction. If it disappears in
the cloud, it does not cause any harm, but if it arrives at the earth, it becomes terrible destructive and
disastrous. The list of probable most affected includes and systems, telecommunication and most radio
and television towers.
Indian Professor Arun Kulshrestha, who has been observing the lightning strike closely, says that the
lightning strike causes more loss owing to increasing urbanization, industrialization, lack of technical
precaution from the risk of construction infrastructure and lack of proper awareness. Professor
Kulshrestha, the executive director of centre for science and Technology of the Non- aligned and underdeveloping
countries, New Delhi, also adds that it creates more destruction in South East Asia, Africa
and South America.
It is said that more than five hundred people are killed by the lightning strike every year. However,
the official data cannot be established. In 2005, there were altogether 73 lightning strikes which has
killed 133 people and injured 137 people in Bangladesh. Similarly, in 2003 in shreelanka, 35 lightning
incidents had claimed 49 lives and wounded 18 people. Dr. Shriram Sharma, who has completed his
PhD with specialization in lightning strikes, assumes that the worldwide death toll caused by this nature’s
rage could be over one thousand. Looking at the current ratio of incidents, this number is estimates to
have risen considerably.
Now it is inevitable that public awareness campaigns should be launched, the code of conduct for
the construction of large buildings and skyscrapers should be made and implemented and the lightning
strike and its consequence need to be incorporated into the school curriculum in order to prevent ourselves
from the potential dangers of the lightning strikes.
It is generally believed that the incidents of lightning strikes occur during the raging storm or heavy
rainfall. However, it may also happen due to the dust particles of volcano eruptions at times.
If there is a flash of lightning due to the volcano eruptions, its major fire can travel at the speed of 60
thousand meters per second and its temperature may reach up 30 thousand meters per degrees centigrade
according to the experts.
In order to protect the buildings or taller structures from the lightning strike, the substance made up
of copper or cable needs to be buried into a cold area into the soil. It means that if any electric currents
pass above, near or around these structures; these negative electric currents will pass through the positive
electric field of the earthen surface and easily reach the cold negative electric field into the soil via copper
cable. Consequently, it doesn’t cause any damage to these structures.
Anti- lightning technology is applied especially telecommunication, radio, TV or other towers. When
there is a thunderstorm, the lightning may strike the higher areas, so you should not stand or sit in an open
space. Scientist suggests that one should either stoop or sleep or hide in the house or cave. The experts
claim that open spaces are riskier.
The conference of scientist and technicians held in Shri-Lanka two years ago had passed a resolution
to make the code of conduct on the construction of houses, buildings, towers and civil aviation. The
Ministry of science and technology suggests that the awareness programs, education and modern
technologies be launched on time. If also discourages our tradition to react only after a tragedy occurs.
Professor dr. Surendraraj; vice-chancellor of Nepal Academy of science and Technology(NAST),
suggests that since there is very little we can do about it, new technology should be exploited in order to
protect the physical structures.
The Experts hold that the lightning strike also needs to be encompassed into the natural disaster
minimization programs such as earthquake and others forms of disasters and every state much prepare
safety measure programs and abide by the code of conduct of the lightning disaster.
Basically, the lightning strikes occur more before and after monsoon. However, Japan is hit by
lightning even in winter. European nations are struck by lightning due to the cold wind blowing inform the
equator.
Recently, Tribhuwan University post graduate passed candidates Surendra Bhatta and Raju Ghimire
are said to be studying about it.Bhatta is researching on the patterns of lightning in Nepal while Ghimire is
studying on how the temperature affects the lightning incidents in terms of climate change. In comparison
with mountainous and hilly areas of Nepal, these are more incidents of lighting in plain areas. Jhapa which
borders India is more frequently hit by more lightning. Lightning strikes occur most frequently in Mansir
and Push. In the month of Chaitra and Baishakh(dry season),when it rains just a little, it brings more
lightning strikes.
On a global scale, the more the temperature rises, the more cloud also increases resulting in more
lighting, when the temperature rises by 1 degree centigrade, the lightning may increase from 10 to 100% as
well. It is believed that the more lightning strikes mean the higher temperature as well. In December 2010,
in Nepal, the highest number of lightning strikes (630 strikes) was recorded within a day.
Precautions
Thunderstorm is followed by lightning and violent storms and torrential rainfall as well. It may lead to
terrible loss of lives and property too. Since it has been taken for granted from all sectors, the lightning
strike has been a deadly catastrophe.
At the time of lightning, the heat and the electric energy last on earth for a fairly short time only but then
there is a huge quantity of scenery and it becomes destructive. The lightning strike kills the human beings,
animals and trees as well. If the lightning strikes the physical infrastructures, they catch fire immediately.
Electric poles and telephones towers are more prone to the risks of the lightning strikes.
According to experts, during the thunderstorm and rain rainfall, one should not walk out of the house.
One should not sit or stand under large trees, electric wires, poles or transformers. Electric earthling
should be done properly. When there is a rumble of thunder one should not be scared but be ready to
save oneself.
(It’s published on Nayapatrika Daily on April 21, 2012)