UP plans early lightning detection and warning system to prevent casualties

The Uttar Pradesh government has planned to set up an early lightning detection and warning system in a bid to prevent casualties caused by lightning strikes in the state especially during the monsoon season, officials said on Saturday.

They said the Uttar Pradesh Lightning Alert Management System will be set up in three phases.

According to the state's relief department, 84 people have died in lightning strikes so far this month across Uttar Pradesh. Of these, 43 people died in a 24-hour period from 6:30 pm on July 10.

The toll is even higher than the number of fatalities caused by lightning strikes in the state during last year's monsoon -- which according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) was 41.

Another IMD report said Uttar Pradesh ranks among the states with the highest lightning strike casualties in the country.

"Considering the data points of lightning-related deaths in Uttar Pradesh, we were already working on setting up a lightning detection system," Dr Manish