Earth's Extreme Fury at Climate Change... 61,000 Lightning Strikes in India Over 2 Hours

KMA Forecasts Similar Weather Conditions for Several Days
India Sees Over 2,000 Annual Deaths Due to Lightning Strikes

In India, about 61,000 lightning strikes occurred over approximately two hours, resulting in 12 deaths and 14 injuries.

According to Indian media including the daily The Times of India on the 4th (local time), the incident took place on the 2nd in six areas including Kurda in the eastern Odisha state bordering the sea.

Lightning in Bhopal, India. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Yonhap News.

The accident caused 12 fatalities and 14 injuries. Eight cattle also died, and heavy rain accompanied the frequent lightning in the area.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that this lightning phenomenon is not over and issued a warning for extreme weather conditions in Odisha state until the 7th. IMD forecasted that similar conditions will continue in several areas of Odisha over the next four days.

As damage from the lightning accompanied by heavy rain continued to mount, the Odisha state government announced plans to provide consolation money of 400,000 rupees (approximately 6.4 million won) to the families of the victims.

Large-scale casualties caused by frequent lightning during monsoon periods in the past

More than 100 people died and thousands were displaced in northern India due to record-breaking heavy rains last July.
[Photo by AP·Yonhap News]

In South Asia, including India, the monsoon usually starts in June and continues until September. In India, there have been several large-scale casualties caused by frequent lightning during monsoon periods in the past.

In 2020, during the monsoon season in June of that year, dozens of lightning strikes occurred in the northern Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, killing more than 100 people.

According to Indian authorities, at least 2,000 people die annually from lightning strikes in India, with about 2,300 deaths recorded in 2018.

Meanwhile, climate scientists explain that the unusual and extreme lightning activity occurs when the monsoon (rainy season) returns to normal after a long dormant period, caused by the collision of cold and warm air masses.