TAG: GS 1: GEOGRAPHY
THE CONTEXT: Recently, 27 fatalities were reported due to unexpected lightning strikes accompanying unseasonal heavy rainfall in Gujarat.
EXPLANATION:
- Despite prior warnings from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the disaster management system in the region primarily focuses on earthquakes and heavy rainfall, lacking specific mechanisms for lightning alerts, which contribute to numerous deaths across India annually.
IMD’s Weather Attribution
- The IMD has linked the lightning occurrences to three distinct weather systems:
- Cyclonic circulation over the Northeast Arabian Sea and adjacent Saurashtra and Kutch regions.
- Influence of Western Disturbances, originating from the Mediterranean Sea, bringing winter rainfall to northwestern India.
- Presence of an Easterly trough with airflow from the Southwest to Northeast Arabian Sea.
Insights from Meteorological Experts
- According to the regional director of IMD, the convergence of these three weather systems isn’t uncommon and has previously occurred, not just during current events but also in monsoon seasons.
- The group director at ISRO’s Space Applications Centre, attributes the unseasonal rainfall to passing Western disturbances that occasionally extend rainfall into southern latitude areas such as Gujarat.
Understanding Lightning Occurrences
- The lightning strikes result from interactions between weather systems and Western Disturbances.
- Additionally, the initial activity after a prolonged dry spell triggers convective activity, leading to lightning strikes, as observed during the recent rainfall in Gujarat.
- The increased moisture interacting with the Western disturbance contributes to thunderstorm activity and lightning incidents.
Warnings and Preparedness
- While the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) was initially established post-2001 earthquake to manage rehabilitation and reconstruction, its disaster preparedness focuses on heavy rainfall and earthquakes, lacking a specific plan for lightning warnings.
Long-Term Disaster Preparedness
- GSDMA aims to develop an early warning system for cyclones as part of its long-term disaster mitigation strategy, aiming to minimize losses due to disasters.
- However, as of now, the authority lacks a dedicated lightning warning system.
- This incident highlights the importance of comprehensive disaster management planning that includes specific strategies for various weather-related calamities to ensure public safety and mitigate the impact of unforeseen natural occurrences.