There is now growing concern about the alarming rise in deaths from lightning. Over the past two days, individual lightning strikes have killed at least ten people.
Over the past three years, according to official figures, 1,256 people have been killed by lightning strikes. These deaths account for almost 27 percent of the total number of deaths due to natural disasters.
Nearly 400 people died in lightning strikes during 2018-19, with the most 130 deaths in Mayurbhanj, followed by 95 deaths in the Balasor region.
In 2015-16, 399 people died from lightning strikes. In 2016-17 and 2017-18, 397 and 460 people died, respectively.
About 85% of deaths (1,069) occurred between May and September. According to experts, changing weather conditions and extreme monsoons are responsible for the rise in thunderstorms in Odisha.
In addition, the amount of aerosol in the air has increased, which is why lightning strikes have become more frequent. Someone playing the "weather wizard" by spraying chemicals into the atmosphere?