Disaster Risk Management Case Study, Khwopa College of Engineering. IOE, TU.

1. CASE STUDY ON LIGHTNING
HAZARD IN NEPAL
PREPARED BY:
SUSHRUT GAUTAM
KCE074BCE089

2. OUTLINE
Overview of Nepal
Geographic division of Nepal
Population Density
Lightning
Causes of Lightning in Nepal
Consequence: Human loss
Consequence: Economic loss
Observations
Measures to reduce the intensity of such disaster

3. OVERVIEW OF NEPAL
Nepal is a Himalayan country which lies in the northern hemisphere
within the latitude 26° 22’N to 30° 27’ N and elongated along east
west with longitude 80° 4’ E to 88° 12’ E.
The air distance between the low land and the highest mountain of
the world Mount Everest, which is about 160 km with the temperature
difference of 95° C which is the main cause of the diversity of weather
and climate.
This variety of topography within a short distance produces different
types of lightning.

4. GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION OF NEPAL

5. POPULATION DENSITY

6. LIGHTNING
Lightning is a common natural activity that occurs in the atmosphere.
During this process, high energy is released in different forms of energy such
as light energy, heat energy, sound energy and other electromagnetic
radiations.
The cumulonimbus (menacing looking multi-level clouds), the primary source
of lightning produces the lightning discharge which is called thunder cloud or
thunderstorm.
The lightning may be categorized mainly into two types:
 a) Ground flash (between opposite charges in the cloud and on the
ground)
 b) Cloud flash (occur between opposite charges within the thunderstorm

8. LIGHTNING
Fig: Cloud to Ground Lightning Fig: Cloud to Cloud Lightning

9. CAUSES OF LIGHTNING IN NEPAL
Nepal is most densely populated mountainous country in the world.
Nepal is more prone to thunderstorms.
Lightning from storm clouds travels much shorter distances to reach
the ground in the high mountains.
The proximity of eastern mountains to moisture from the Bay of
Bengal, make the country more prone to thunderstorms.

10. CAUSES OF LIGHTNING IN NEPAL
Higher fatalities over Chure and Siwalik can be attributed to their
elevation leading to a smaller distance to the charge center in the
cloud and meteorological conditions.
In Nepal, after the 2015 earthquake, lightning accounted for the
highest number of deaths.
Data from Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) portal of Ministry of Home
Affairs (MoHA), shows an average of 108 peoples are killed by
lightning each year.
Ignorance to lightning because unlike other disasters it rarely leads to
mass casualties.

11. CONSEQUENCES: HUMAN LOSS
An average of 108 people die each year due to lightning in Nepal.
An average of over 255 people are injured each year due to lightning
in Nepal.
More male die than female, an indicative of more males being
engaged in the outdoor activities than that of females.

12. CONSEQUENCE: HUMAN LOSS
2068 2069 2070 2071 2072 2073 2074 2075 2076 2077 2078
Death 103 131 111 128 80 115 105 68 88 71 49
Injured 293 232 198 261 148 280 285 289 354 248 158
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
No.
of
People
Year (B.S.)
Human Fatalities due to lightning
Death
Injured

13. CONSEQUENCE: ECONOMIC LOSS
Economic loss is attributed due to loss of human lives, cattle's lives.
Small houses struck by lightning are set to fire.
Forest fire due to lightning cause loss of natural resources.
Disturbance in electricity supply during Lightning severely affects the
national economy.

14. CONSEQUENCE: ECONOMIC LOSS
5680000
2470000
4362000
9346000
7062000
8081000
5315000
12564000
7471500 7255430
16464830
0
2000000
4000000
6000000
8000000
10000000
12000000
14000000
16000000
18000000
2068 2069 2070 2071 2072 2073 2074 2075 2076 2077 2078
Loss
(NRs)
Year (B.S.)
Estimated Loss due to Lightning

15. OBSERVATIONS
Lightning density of Nepal according to Vaisala's Interactive Global
Lightning Density Map is 8.2 events/km2/year.
An average of 108 people die and 205 people are injured from lightning
each year in Nepal.
Most death in Chure and Siwalik region.
Makwanpur district with highest fatalities.
The number of deaths of male is higher than that of female.

16. OBSERVATIONS
Lightning occurrence and fatalities are concentrated in the pre-
monsoon and monsoon months.
The largest number of casualties (131) was recorded in the year 2069
and the least number (68) in 2075.
Acute need of installing lightning protection system on each house,
particularly, in the hilly region.

17. Fig: Density of Lightning fatality and communication facility in Nepal

18. Fig: Interactive map of Average lightning density observed over Nepal for 2016 through
2021 from Vaisala’s Global Lightning Dataset.

19. MEASURES TO REDUCE THE INTENSITY OF
SUCH DISASTER
One should not stay at an open field, should not lie on the ground, mass
activities should be avoided, should not take shield under the tower or tall trees
during Lightning.
One should not use the electrical appliances, telephone or mobile, should not
go out from home during lightning.
Government has started awareness campaigns in districts which have been
frequently hit by lightning.
Government in 2017 had set up nine lightning detection centres around the
country.
Government is planning to introduce provision in the building codes to have

21. THANK
YOU!!!