Odisha Govt Urges Centre to Classify Lightning as Natural Disaster

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has urged the central government to classify lightning as a natural disaster. This request comes in response to the increasing number of deaths caused by lightning strikes in the region.

Currently, the state government provides a compensation of Rs 400,000 to the families of the deceased. However, if lightning is officially recognized as a natural disaster, families would be eligible for higher compensation in line with provisions for such disasters.

The Odisha government has submitted a formal proposal to the central government for this classification. They have also engaged with a Union Minister on this matter, who has assured them of considering their demands.

On September 2, 12 people lost their lives due to severe thunderstorms and lightning activity in Odisha. Khordha district reported the highest number of casualties, with four fatalities, while Bolangir had two, and Angul, Boudh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Jagatsinghpur, and Puri districts each reported one fatality. Additionally, eight cattle also perished in Gajapati and Kandhamal districts as a result of these extreme weather conditions.

The Odisha government is hopeful that the central government will consider their request and classify lightning as a natural disaster. This would provide much-needed relief to the families of the victims and help to mitigate the risk of future deaths and injuries.