The bolt from the blue, claiming the lives of humans and livestock, may not be that much of a surprise any more. An app, Sidilu, and a system of information dissemination covering more than 28 lakh people, which could prevent the deaths of scores of people to lightning across the State was launched on Friday.
This year, lightning has already claimed the lives of 19 people, while the intense pre-monsoon and monsoon saw 108 people succumb to injuries after being struck. Since 2009, 647 people have died from lightning strikes, making it one of the worst natural disasters. “It is a very serious issue, and it is preventable if prior alerts are sent,” said D.V. Prasad, Development Commissioner, who launched the app, which has been developed by Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Committee (KSNDMC).
The KSNDMC recently completed a ₹50-lakh project that has seen 11 lightning detectors placed across the State.
G.S. Srinivas Reddy, Director of KSNDMC, said the network could now detect lightning spots up to 45 minutes in advance and with an accuracy of 140m. This time is enough for people to find shelter to avoid lightning strikes.
However, with lightning strikes being common in rural areas, does it make sense to have an app for it? “Over the years, we have a database of around 28 lakh phone numbers of farmers and the public. Messages will go to them, while our call centre will personally call villagers in areas where lightning is expected. But, we have little reach in urban areas, and this app is to reach out to them too,” said Mr. Reddy. Depending on the location of the user, the Early Warning system will lay out four colour-coded messages: Red, if the lightning strikes are probable in a 1-km radius; Orange, if strikes are within 5-km radius; Yellow, 15-km radius; and Green, for no danger at all.
