MITHI: Tharparkar, one of the two districts in Thar Desert located in Pakistan’s Sindh province, has been ravaged by frequent lightning strikes, resulting in significant human and animal casualties. According to a recent report by local NGO Association for Water, Applied Education & Renewable Energy (AWARE), 98 people and 1756 animals have lost their lives to lightning incidents in the district over the last five years i’e from 2019 to 2023.
The report, “Unpredictable Danger: A Case of Lightning Strikes in Tharparkar,” cites a study by Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, which estimates that the Thar region experiences an annual average of 100,000 lightning strikes, far exceeding the global average of 25,000.
The recent monsoon season has seen a surge in lightning events, with eight human deaths reported in the last week of June alone. The community is feeling threatened and hesitant to work in the fields, despite the ongoing sowing season.
In response to this crisis, AWARE has installed lightning arrester rods in ten villages at the community level, with support from terre des hommes (tdh) Germany. This initiative aims to provide a safe path for lightning to ground, reducing the risk of direct hits on buildings and structures.
Local residents have expressed gratitude and relief, hailing the installation of lightning arrester rods as a “revolutionary step” towards ensuring their safety. However, experts emphasize that more needs to be done to address the scale of the problem.
Recommendations include launching educational campaigns, installing lightning rods on critical structures, and establishing well-equipped shelters to mitigate the risk of lightning strikes. Further research and collaborative efforts are also necessary to devise innovative methods for minimizing the risk of lightning strikes in Tharparkar.
By taking proactive measures, the region can ensure the safety and well-being of its populace and protect against the devastating effects of lightning strikes.