This Indian state resorts to palm tree planting as climate change makes lighting deaths more frequent
Odisha in the eastern part of India is one of the most badly affected states by lightning strikes during the pre-monsoon and monsoon periods. On average, 300 people die annually in the state due to lightning, amid 2,058 deaths recorded from 2018-19 to 2022-23.
More than 16,300 people have died in Odisha in various natural calamities in the five-year period, the state government reported in the assembly in September 2023. Lightning strikes claim nearly 2,500 lives every year in India, according to experts.
In an effort to combat the fatalities from lightning, Odisha has restricted the cutting of palm trees and plans to plant around 1.9 million such trees across the state in 2024-25. The massive plantation project could cost an estimated Rs 7 crore ($838,470).
Odisha declared lightning a state-specific disaster in 2015
Palm trees act as natural conductors during lightning strikes and prevent loss of lives. Permission must be obtained from the forest department to cut the trees on private land premises. Individuals violating the order are likely to face strict action against them.
Odisha declared lightning a state-specific disaster in 2015 and the state government provides an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh ($4,800) to the family of the deceased in case of lightning-related fatalities. The restriction on cutting existing palm trees has been described as a positive step.
But Manoranjan Mishra, a professor in the Department of Geography at FM University, Balasore, pointed out that in Bangladesh, a country that initiated palm tree planting some years ago to reduce deaths, lightning fatalities still remain high.
Rise in lightning strikes due to climate change
Highlighting the importance of all tall trees, P Sundar Narayan Patra, a retired professor of botany and president of the Odisha Environment Society, said: “The government should re-impose restrictions on cutting tall trees to minimise deaths due to lightning strikes.”
Rising global temperatures due to climate change mean hotter air – that can hold more moisture, roughly 7% more moisture per 1 degree Celsius of global heating. This boosts the chance of thunderstorms, leading to more violent storms and more lightning strikes.
Humanity can expect to see a 12% rise in lightning activity for every 1-degree rise in temperatures, according to a report in the journal Science. Countries like the US could see a 50% rise in the number of lightning strikes by the end of the century.
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