NE most lightning prone zone in world

Guwahati, Apr 26 (UNI) Nature has endowed North East India with beauty, and has also chosen it as its favourite destination to display its fireworks.

NE region enjoys the distinction of being among the regions with the highest lightning density, with the Brahmaputra Valley having the world's highest average of lightning days.

This was stated by Deputy Director General of the Regional Meteorological Centre, Guwahati, D Chakrabarty on the opening day of a two-day National Workshop on Lightning Protection here today.

The workshop has been organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), in collaboration with South Asian Lightning Information and Resources Centre, Sri Lanka. It is being supported by Union Department of Science and Technology and MTL India Limited.

Against a world average of 70-80 days of lightning days annually, 121 days are recorded in NE alone.

As per data available since 1959, 119 lightning or thunderstorm days have been recorded in Guwahati alone. During the same time, Tezpur accounted for 121 days and Dibrugarh for 113 days. Similarly, Dhubri reported 89 lightning days, Silchar 77 days, Imphal 56 days, Pasighat 34 days and North Lakhimpur 69 days.

Dr Chakrabarty informed that three deaths due to lightning were reported from Asom and Meghalaya each last year, while Tripura had five such deaths. About five deaths have been reported from Asom in the current year, he added.

He maintained that in the absence of organised mapping of lightning incidents in the region, the total deaths and other damages to property could not be ascertained. He added that the death toll would rise if proper survey was undertaken.

MORE UNI SG KK RP VV1641