Lightning-related fatalities in India (1967–2020): a detailed overview of patterns and trends

Climate-induced extreme events are exhibiting a global increasing trend. Among these, lightning has resulted in more fatalities than any other disaster. The Indian subcontinent has emerged as one of the most vulnerable regions in the world in terms of lightning flashes and associated fatalities. This study investigates human fatalities related to lightning in India at both state and regional levels from 1967 to 2020. Data on deaths caused by lightning have been provided by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The methods used in this study include trend analyses such as the Mann–Kendall test, Modified Mann–Kendall test, Sen’s slope estimator, as well as variability tests like ANOVA, and the Tukey Honest Significant Difference (HSD) test. The average annual lightning fatality in India is approximately 1876, with a sharp increase observed after 2001. States with the highest number of fatalities include Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha. Regionally, the Central Indian Region accounts for 50% of lightning-induced deaths, followed by Northeast India (19%), Northwest India (18%), and South Peninsular India (13%). The results indicate a steady increase in lightning activity in India, positioning it as a major killer among climate change-induced natural disasters.