Lightning has emerged as the most lethal natural hazard in India, with the number of fatalities rising consistently over the years. A review of reports published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) showed that the country reported a total of 1,02,263 deaths due to lightning in the 50-year-period between 1975 and 2024 (Chart 1). Over half of these deaths happened between 2005 and 2024.

The decennial averages of deaths caused by lightning in the last three decades jumped from 1,683 (1995-2004) to 2,476 (2005-2014) and 2,809 (2015-2024). This is despite India’s broader progress in reducing deaths from natural causes, thanks to better forecasting, modelling and disaster preparedness. From 2016, lightning accounted for at least 50% of all deaths due to natural causes while cyclones and floods accounted for fewer (Chart 2). There were 3,315 deaths caused by lightning in 2016, which was the highest ever since 1974, as per the NCRB. In terms of proportion, lightning accounted for the highest share of all deaths due to natural causes in 2021. There were 2,880 deaths due to lightning, which was 70.4% of the 4,091 deaths due to natural causes.