Mumbai, June 29: The monsoon season in Jharkhand has brought with it a wave of destruction, claiming numerous lives. Since June 12, more than 30 people have died due to lightning strikes, with over 35 others injured.
On Sunday, a forest ranger named Roshan Srivastava was killed by lightning while inspecting a watchtower in the Sonahatu area of Ranchi. Two other forest workers were also injured in the incident. In Lohardaga, a three-year-old girl, a farmer in Ranchi’s Bero, a minor in Silli, and two children in Garhwa district who were out gathering mangoes also lost their lives to lightning.
Between June 24 and 26, lightning caused significant destruction across several districts, resulting in 12 deaths and approximately 18 injuries. In Lohardaga, two women were killed in separate incidents, while eight others suffered severe burns. Earlier, during a football match in West Singhbhum’s Toklo from June 21 to 23, lightning struck the field, killing two players. In Khunti district’s Karra, a lightning strike during a cricket game resulted in one death and 11 injuries.
From June 17 to 19, eight deaths were recorded in Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, Palamu, Lohardaga, Godda, and West Singhbhum. Within the first 24 hours of the monsoon’s arrival, eight lives were lost in Ranchi, Garhwa, Chatra, Giridih, Jamtara, and Saraikela-Kharsawan.
Meteorologists indicate that Jharkhand’s geographical features make it highly susceptible to lightning. The hilly terrain, dense forests, tall trees, mineral wealth, and the clash of warm and cold winds during the monsoon create an environment conducive to electrical energy buildup, leading to increased lightning incidents. Ranchi, Gumla, Palamu, Bokaro, and East Singhbhum are identified as major “lightning hotspots” in the state.
According to data from the Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council (CROPSC) and the India Meteorological Department, Jharkhand has recorded an average of over 436,000 lightning strikes annually over the past five years. In the last decade, at least 1,669 people have died due to lightning in the state.
Experts believe the actual numbers may be higher, as many incidents in remote rural areas go unreported. The majority of lightning-related fatalities involve farmers, agricultural laborers, cattle herders, women, and individuals working in open spaces.
The meteorological department has issued a yellow alert for most districts, advising residents to stay away from open fields, trees, power poles, and water bodies during thunderstorms. The state disaster management department has urged people to seek shelter in safe locations during inclement weather and avoid staying in open areas at all costs.
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