India’s weather office on Wednesday issued a thunderstorm alert for several districts across southern West Bengal, warning of possible lightning strikes and gusty winds between 3 June and 9 June.
Nearly 300 people, mostly rural farmers, have been killed in lightning strikes in Bangladesh this year.
Lightning strike frequency has increased due to global warming, environmental degradation, and sudden weather changes resulting in cloudbursts, cyclonic storms, and thunderstorms
The MeT has forecast thunderstorms accompanied by lightning at a few places in north coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and south coastal districts on Tuesday.
People outside should take shelter under a building and not a tree.
What is strange, the number of casualties has been rising each year despite the authorities launching aware campaigns and issuing frequent advisories.
This is being done in coordination with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the alert system would be introduced across the state soon, officials said.
