Minister Suresh Pujari Inaugurates OSDMA’s National Workshop on Lightning Safety

Minister Suresh Pujari Inaugurates OSDMA’s National Workshop on Lightning Safety

– *Leading scientific and technical institutions, universities, researchers and experts from across the country participate in the workshop*

– *National workshop marks a significant step towards reducing the impact of lightning through deliberations among experts and officials : Revenue Minister*

– *Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Lightning Safety to be developed*

Bhubaneswar, October 15 :

Hon’ble Minister, Revenue and Disaster Management, Suresh Pujari, today inaugurated the National Workshop on Lightning Safety at Hotel Lemon Tree Premier, Bhubaneswar.

Organised by the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), the two-day national workshop, being held on October 15 and 16, has brought together leading scientific and technical institutions, universities, disaster management organisations, researchers and district-level officials from across the country.

Addressing the inaugural session, Minister Pujari said that lightning has emerged as a significant disaster in terms of its impact and the extent of damage it causes. OSDMA has been making sustained efforts to address this challenge and reduce lightning-related deaths and losses. He observed that the national workshop would serve as a significant platform for deliberations, discussions and knowledge-sharing among scientists, researchers, experts and administrative officials to identify effective measures for mitigating the impact of lightning. He expressed confidence that the initiative would further strengthen Odisha’s capacity in disaster risk reduction.

Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), attended the inaugural session as the Guest of Honour. He stated that the workshop would deliberate on improving lightning detection, monitoring and forecasting systems through the integration of satellite data, numerical weather prediction, emerging applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) & Panchayat-level decision-support systems. He emphasised that such workshops would help make existing mechanisms more effective in addressing disasters such as lightning.

OSDMA Managing Director Rajesh Prabhakar Patil said that the primary objective of the workshop was to strengthen lightning forecasting, risk assessment, dissemination of early warnings and public safety measures. Over the two days, the workshop would focus on translating scientific knowledge and technological advancements into practical interventions to protect the lives of vulnerable communities, particularly farmers, agricultural labourers, outdoor workers, students and people living in lightning-prone areas. He reiterated that OSDMA remains committed to ensuring public safety in a disaster-prone state like Odisha.

Experts and representatives from several leading national scientific, technical and academic institutions are participating in the workshop. These include the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS), National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar (IIT Bhubaneswar), Fakir Mohan University, Baleshwar, National Institute of Technology Patna (NIT Patna), Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), Central University of Jharkhand, CSIR National Institute of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Tripura University, Brahmapur University, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council (CROPC) and Cape Electric.

The technical sessions will focus on enhancing the accuracy of lightning forecasts, increasing the lead time available for early warnings and improving the utilisation of scientific data for decision-making at the local level. The deliberations are expected to facilitate greater coordination between scientific institutions and administrative agencies, enabling the development of more effective and timely lightning safety measures.

During the workshop, experts and government representatives will deliberate on preparing a draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for lightning safety, along with a proposed action plan for 2027.

A key outcome of the workshop will be the preparation of “Lightning-Safe Odisha: Action Plan 2027 and Roadmap 2027–2030.” The proposed roadmap will provide a clear framework for coordinated action in key areas, including lightning forecasting, risk reduction, public awareness, dissemination of early warnings and emergency response.