Lightning has become one of the deadliest natural hazards in India. According to data highlighted in the presentation, lightning accounted for a significant share of natural disaster-related deaths, with thousands of fatalities reported annually. This clearly indicates that lightning is not a rare event but a serious public safety concern.
Apart from loss of life, lightning causes:
- Fire accidents in buildings
- Damage to electrical installations
- Failure of communication systems
- Breakdown of industrial machinery
- Data loss in IT infrastructure
- Downtime in commercial and industrial operations
A single lightning strike can damage assets worth lakhs or even crores of rupees within seconds, making prevention far more economical than repairs or replacements.
Why Are Lightning Accidents Increasing?
Several factors contribute to increasing lightning-related incidents:
- Expansion of high-rise buildings
- Increased use of sensitive electronic equipment
- Growth of rooftop solar installations
- Climate variations leading to more lightning activity
- Lack of awareness about standards-compliant lightning protection
Many building owners mistakenly believe that installing a lightning rod alone is sufficient. In reality, an effective protection system consists of air termination, down conductors, earthing, and surge protection working together.