Kendrapara: The district administration has launched an awareness campaign to sensitise people about lightning related mishaps to check the rate of fatalities.

"Lightning is widely perceived as the most unpredictable natural phenomenon claiming many lives in this coastal district. It's a natural phenomenon. To stop its occurrence is simply beyond human control. However, to reduce the lightning fatalities, an awareness campaign to sensitise the people and educate them on the ways and means to ensure safety during lightning has been launched. The district administration is preparing publicity materials on Dos and Don'ts on lightning for wide circulation as part of awareness programme," said Kendrapara collector Reghu G.

"The farm labourers and farmers engaged in agriculture work in the open field are mostly falling prey to lightning. We have told the gram panchayat representatives to launch awareness campaigns. The farmers have been advised not to expose themselves in the open fields during thunder stroke," he said.

People are being advised not to expose themselves in outdoors during the rain and thunderstorm. "It's safer proportion to stay indoors, preferably in houses, during such time," he said.

The forest department has been directed to take up plantation of lightning-conductor palm trees to minimise the scale of lightning deaths in the district. As these tall trees absorb the lightning, the areas lying nearby are saved from possible lightning.

Lightning was declared as a state specific disaster from April 1, 2015. According to the revised norms, Rs 4 lakh per deceased is now being paid by the government as ex gratia towards the lightning victim's families.

Prior to 2015, the ex gratia was either being paid from the chief minister's relief fund or the district gratuitous relief fund. "It's like exposing oneself to deadly strike from the heaven. Ironically, the majority of those, who perished in lightning strike, are poor people. Over 50 per cent of those killing in lightning strike are either daily wagers or farm labourers," said an official.