Image credit: NOAA
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has suggested some measures to be followed by the people so that lightening impact can be reduced. NDMA suggested these measures in view of the recent loss of lives due to lightning strike in different parts of the country.
Measures to avoid lightening
The people not to take shelter under or near trees during lightening strike when they are outside their homes.
To get inside a house or building, but avoid structure with tin or metal roofs.
If anyone caught under the open sky then the person should sit down and crouch and not lie down on the ground.
In case the people are indoors, people should unplug all electrical equipments, not to use corded telephone and stay away from windows and doors at the time of lightning.
What is Lightening?
According to the NOAA, lightning is one of the oldest observed natural phenomena on earth.
It is a giant spark of electricity in the atmosphere between clouds, the air, or the ground.
Lightning can occur between opposite charges within the thunderstorm cloud (intra-cloud lightning) or between opposite charges in the cloud and on the ground (cloud-to-ground lightning).
Lightning causes thunder. It can be seen in volcanic eruptions, extremely intense forest fires, surface nuclear detonations, heavy snowstorms, in large hurricanes, and obviously, thunderstorms. .
(Source: AIR and NOAA)
