To protect unsuspecting people from lightning, the Uttar Pradesh government will install lightning arresters or lightning rods atop tall buildings across the state.
The lightning rods attract lightning emanating from the sky in inclement weather, and transmit it underground, thus saving human lives and preventing damage.
Lightning is an electrical discharge caused by imbalances between storm clouds and the ground, or within the clouds themselves. Most lightning occurs within the clouds.
In fact, UP relief commissioner G S Naveen Kumar has already briefed the state chief secretary about the benefits of installing lightning arresters.
In 2022-23, 301 people died due to lightning in 52 districts of UP, whereas 174 lives were lost due to the phenomenon in 36 districts till July in the current financial year 2023-24.
Under the proposal, lightning arresters or lightning rods can be installed on the tallest buildings in an area.
A lightning rod or lightning conductor is a metal rod mounted on a structure and intended to protect the structure from lightning strike.
In case of lightning, it will directly strike the rod instead of passing through the structure. The rod will conduct the charge through a wire into the ground, preventing damage to the structure.
Lighting creates a large electromagnetic field that can induce high voltages in nearby conductive materials such as electrical wires and pipelines. This high voltage can damage the structure and potentially harm people present inside and around with electric shock.
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A lightning arrester or lightning rod provides a low-resistance path for the flow of lightning away from the structure and into the ground.