National Workshop on Lightning Safety Inaugurated in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management Suresh Pujari inaugurated the two-day National Workshop on Lightning Safety, organised by the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) in Bhubaneswar on October 15–16.

The workshop brought together leading scientific and technical institutions, researchers, academic experts and disaster management officials from across the country to discuss strategies for reducing lightning-related deaths and damage.

Addressing the inaugural session, the Minister highlighted the growing impact of lightning and emphasised the need for coordinated efforts, scientific research and knowledge-sharing to strengthen disaster risk reduction.

Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), highlighted the importance of improving lightning detection, monitoring and forecasting through satellite data, numerical weather prediction, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Panchayat-level decision-support systems.

OSDMA Managing Director Rajesh Prabhakar Patil said the workshop aimed to strengthen lightning forecasting, risk assessment, early warning dissemination and public safety measures, with particular emphasis on protecting vulnerable communities, including farmers, agricultural labourers, outdoor workers and students.

Experts and representatives from national scientific, technical and academic institutions, including IMD, IITM, NRSC, NCMRWF, IIT Bhubaneswar, NIT Patna, CEEW and other universities and research organisations, participated in the workshop.

The initiative underscores OSDMA’s commitment to translating scientific advancements into practical interventions to enhance lightning safety and strengthen Odisha’s disaster preparedness.