Lucknow
The Yogi Adityanath government has issued an advisory to farmers, asking them to install the 'Damini' app on their mobile phones.
The app is designed to alert the user about the possibility of lightning after assessing the atmospheric conditions.
Scores of people have lost their lives in the past week in UP and Bihar after being struck by lightning.
According to app developer SD Pawar, "Users will get an alert five minutes before lightning strikes. It will also point out how far lightning could strike and in how much time. If there is no possibility of lightning when it rains, the app will indicate that as well.”
Sanjay Bhoosreddy, principal secretary of the sugarcane and sugar industry, said the idea is to give people enough time to evacuate.
“Farmers end up being most at risk because of this. There are 46 lakh sugarcane farmers in the state and the app will warn them when it is unsafe and also how to protect themselves,” he said.
The app was released in November 2018 by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology at Pune, Maharashtra. Its interface now shows it is supported by the Union ministry of earth sciences. It has been downloaded 1 lakh times and as of Wednesday, it is the sixth top weather app in India. It also has a tab, outlining ways in which people can keep themselves safe.
Bhoosreddy said, "Sugarcane growers have been advised not to take shelter in open fields and under trees, and avoid lying flat on the ground. If someone does get stuck in an open space when lightning strikes, they should put their hands over their ears, bend downwards and make sure that the heels of their feet are touching each other.”
Lightning kills 12 in Bihar
CM Nitish Kumar said 12 people were killed by lighting in Bihar’s six districts on Wednesday. He said Rs4 lakh each will be given to the family of deceased. “12 people died of lightning in 6 districts of the state. It has been directed to give ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the dependents of the deceased. I appeal to the people to be cautious in bad weather. Follow the suggestions issued from time to time by the Dept of Disaster Management. Stay indoors in bad weather and be safe,” Kumar tweeted.
