Bhubaneswar: Lightning has become a major disaster in Odisha that claims more than 400 human lives on an average per year.
The Earth Networks, a USA-based organization, made a presentation on "Total Lightning Based Early Warning System" before the Chief Secretary Sri A.P Padhi in the State Secretariat on Tuesday.
The Regional Manager, Asia Region of Earth Networks, explained the benefits received by establishing a lightning detection system and proper alert system in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
He said through the above system, lightning strike can be predicted about 45 minutes in advance and highly accurate forecasts can be provided with precise location of the area likely to be affected.
This will facilitate dissemination of early warning through Mass Massaging and mobile-based application to the people of such localities enabling them to take suitable precautionary measures to save their lives.
In comparison with other natural calamities that cause more economic losses, the death toll due to lightning is much higher in Odisha.
As many as 456 human lives have been lost during the year 2017-18 due to lightning, which records a 15% increase over that in the last year.
Besides raising awareness among people about the disaster and sharing safety tips, the state government is making all efforts to minimize the death toll through appropriate technological interventions.
Among others, Additional Chief Secretary and the Development Commissioner R. Balakrishnan, Principal Secretary, Finance Department Tuhin Kanta Pandey and Special Relief Commissioner & Managing Director, OSDMA Bishnupada Sethi were present during the presentation.
Senior level scientists and experts invited from reputed institutions like IIT, Bhubaneswar, IISc, Bengaluru, NRSC, Hyderabad, ORSAC, IMD, Bhubaneswar also attended the presentation and participated in the discussions.
Officials from Odisha State Disaster Management Authority and Office of Special Relief Commissioner, Odisha were also present at the meeting.