61 thousand lightning strikes in India in two hours, 12 people died

Although lightning strikes are common during the monsoon season in the east of the country, this amount of lightning in one day was unprecedented. Over 61,000 lightning strikes occurred in the eastern Indian state of Odisha in two hours during a thunderstorm. According to the Odisha Disaster Management Authority, over 36,000 cloud-to-cloud lightning strikes and over 25,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes were observed. 12 people died and 14 were injured due to lightning. The state government announced 400,000 rupees ($4.8,000) in compensation to the families of the victims. Thunderstorms were caused by an active cyclone over the Bay of Bengal. Although lightning strikes are common in eastern India during the monsoon season, this amount of lightning in one day was unprecedented. The Indian Meteorological Department has warned the people that extreme weather due to cyclones in the Bay of Bengal will continue till September 7. Meanwhile, studies predict an increase in deadly lightning strikes by the end of the century due to rising sea levels. In addition, climate warming will also lead to more extreme weather such as hurricanes. According to a study published in 2015 by the University of California, every 1°C increase in temperature increases the frequency of lightning strikes by 12%.