Nearly 70 People Died Due To Lightning In UP, MP & Rajasthan: Here's How We Can Stay Safe

Nearly 70 people died in a day in separate lightning incidents across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan on July 11.

While the death toll due to heavy lightning in Uttar Pradesh mounted to 41 on Monday, seven people reportedly died in Madhya Pradesh.

More than 20 people died in Rajasthan, of which seven were children.

In Jaipur, 11 people died and many feared injured in a lightning strike in front of the 12th century Amer Palace near Jaipur. The incident took place when people were taking selfies at a watch tower amid rain in the Rajasthan capital.

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Reports suggest that dozens of people were present at the watchtower when the lightning struck.

Death due to lightning is common across the country.

India released its first-ever Annual Lightning Report (2019-2020) in December 2020, stating that the country recorded 1,771 deaths due to lightning between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2020.

This despite the fact that India has 82 lightning detectors, apps that deliver alert notifications for upcoming lightning incidents, and the IMD can relay immediate lightning forecasts for the next three hours.

In India, every third death due to natural hazards is due to lightning.

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Nearly 42,500 people were killed due to lightning strikes between 2001 and 2018, according to NCRB data.

What not to do what lightning strikes

• If you're caught outside, go inside immediately. No safe options exist outside. Run to your car or a safe building as soon as you hear thunder.
• While inside, avoid anything that conducts electricity and is plugged into a wall socket -- phones, electrical outlets, lights, desktop computers, televisions, stereos, and water faucets (metal plumbing conducts electricity) are just some of the items to avoid.
• Avoid metal doors and frames
• Stay away from open fields or hilltops. Lightning often strikes the tallest object in the area, so avoid open fields or any hilltops.
• Don't stand near trees or tall isolated objects.
• Avoid swimming or water sports on rainy days.