Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to install sensors across the eastern Indian state to warn people about possible lightning strikes.
An early lightning warning system is required as lightning strikes have claimed at least 18 lives in the state in the last three days, Odisha’s Special Relief Commissioner B P Sethi told reporters on June 13.
“We can get information about lightning 45 minutes prior to lightning strike. The state government will make arrangements to send the information to the people through mass media,” Sethi said.
This will help people to move to safer places, he added.
The state will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with a US-based lightning analyzing system company this week, the official said.
The company, called Earth Networks, will install the lightning sensors at various places across the state, the SRC said.
Sethi also said the lightning sensors would be installed in high-rise buildings and multipurpose shelters.
On an average, 419 people have been killed in lightning strikes in the state each year, for the last three years, a state government official said, adding, it has become a cause for concern for the Odisha government.
source:hwnews)