India: How lightning arresters helped achieve zero casualty in Odisha

Source(s): Hindu Business Line, the - The Hindu Group of Publications

By Vinson Kurian

The Odisha Government has come in for all-round praise for its state of preparedness that helped minimise loss of life and property during Cyclone Fani.

The early warning inputs by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) were promptly utilised to execute the mammoth task of evacuation of more than 11 lakh people to 879 cyclone-safe shelters. This was a major achievement.

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Lightning surge is integral part of any cyclone and a large number of deaths are always attributed to it. Based on past experience, cyclone shelters along the coastline are most vulnerable.

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After cyclone Fani, the State Disaster Management Authority reviewed the status of lightning arresters. Out of the 879 installed, only one was found damaged, which was repaired immediately. This sort of sensitivity alone yields results, Srivastava said.

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The Lightning Resilient India Campaign launched jointly by the Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council, IMD, IIT-Delhi and World Vision India stresses on the need for installation of protection system in vulnerable buildings/assets.

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