This app forecasts lightning, saves lives

The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) has launched the ‘Sidilu’ app that predicts lightning strike and thunderstorms in advance and sends location-specific warnings to mobile users, to protect themselves. The app can be downloaded free of cost from the Google Playstore.

The app, developed in association with US-based Earth Networks company, is expected to save people’s lives.

SMS alerts, helpline

The company has installed 11 lightning detection sensor stations in the state. The KSNDMC gets real-time data for early warning on lightning and thunderstorms from the stations. The data is disseminated through the Sidilu app, SMS alerts and Varunamitra weather forecasting helpline.

Danger zone

KSNDMC scientific officer Shivakumar Naiklal told DH, the app issues warning to smartphone users 20 to 45 minutes before the lightning strike by displaying information in different colours.

An alert in red indicates that the user is in danger zone as there is a 90% probability of a lightning strike within one km radius of the location. Orange shows the possible occurrence of the strike within 5 km radius and yellow in 15 km radius.

If a green alert pops up on the screen, the user is safe. KSNDMC director Shrinivas Reddi said the app was launched last year. The farmers and agriculture labourers who work in fields and shepherds are more vulnerable to lightning and thunderstorms.

They can utilise the app to protect their lives. The app users have to open it when there is the possibility of a lightning strike around them. Then only, they can protect themselves from these natural calamities.

He said, “We have been creating awareness among people, urban and rural folk, about the app. We educate people on it during Krishi Mela, Horticulture Mela and other programmes. We have a database of 30 lakh people, including farmers. People who have ordinary mobile phones also get SMS alerts from KSNDMC on lightning and thunderstorms.”

Lightning is one of the deadliest natural calamities. Every year, it causes huge loss to human lives, livestock and infrastructure.

According to the Revenue Department, a total of 760 people in the state lost their lives from 2009 to 2018 due lightning strike alone and throughout India, lightning claimed lives of about 2,850 people in 2013 and about 2,600 people in 2014. Every year, about 1,750 people lose lives to lightning in India.

At present, 5,761 android phone users and more than 2,200 apple phone users are benefiting from the app.