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Lightning an Ignored Disaster in Nepal

Lightning an Ignored Disaster in Nepal


Picture of Lightning
Picture of Lightning
Lightning is an ignored disaster in Nepal as casualties caused by it are scattered across Nepal and it doesn't create mass casualties. Despite that, more people have died due to lightning in 2015 than any other disaster in Nepal. The chances of being struck by one are 1 in 500,000 yet it is responsible for 24,000 deaths worldwide every year. More people die every year in electric storms in Nepal than in the whole of North America.

Below are some safety measures stated by the CDC.

 Safety precautions outdoors
  • If the weather forecast calls for thunderstorms, postpone your trip or activity.
  • Remember: When thunder roars, go indoors. Find a safe, enclosed shelter.
  • The main lightning safety guide is the 30-30 rule. After you see lightning, start counting to 30. If you hear thunder before you reach 30, go indoors. Suspend activities for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.
  • If no shelter is available, crouch low, with as little of your body touching the ground as possible. Lightning causes electric currents along the top of the ground that can be deadly over 100 feet away.
  • Stay away from concrete floors or walls. Lightning can travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.
  • Although you should move into a non-concrete structure if possible, being indoors does not automatically protect you from lightning. In fact, about one-third of lightning-strike injuries occur indoors.
  • Closed-door vehicles, like cars, are safe in lightning. It's not the rubber tires but the metal roof and sides that protect you. So if lightning strikes your vehicle, avoid touching the frame or doors. Motorcycles, bicycles, and cars with fiberglass, shells offer no protection from lightning.
  • Open-ended picnic shelters, tents, and dugouts are not safe places in storms. If you are stuck outside, avoid open fields such as tops of hills. Stay away from isolated trees or towers. Stay away from water.
Safety precautions indoors
  • Avoid water during a thunderstorm. Lightning can travel through plumbing.
  • Avoid electronic equipment of all types. Lightning can travel through electrical systems and radio and television reception systems.
  • Avoid corded phones. However, cordless or cellular phones are safe to use during a storm.
  • Avoid concrete floors and walls.
  • Lightning strikes may be rare, but they still happen and the risk of serious injury or death is severe. So take thunderstorms seriously.
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