Jamshedpur Schools Vulnerable to Lightning Strikes

The Indian Meteorological Department has identified six states, including Jharkhand, as being highly susceptible to lightning strikes, as over 439,000 were recorded in the region in 2021-2022.

JAMSHEDPUR – Most of the East Singhbhum schools do not have lightning arrester. Thieves have stolen the lightning arrester installed in majority of the schools, leaving them exposed to lightning risks.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has highlighted Jharkhand among six Indian states as particularly prone to the risks of lightning. IMD data showed that Jharkhand saw as many as 439,828 lightning strikes in the 2021–2022 period.

Following a directive from the Ranchi High Court during the 2008–09 and 2010–11 academic years, all district schools had lightning conductors installed. This included approximately 2,000 schools in East Singhbhum.

However, current data suggests that 1,597 schools in the district currently lack lightning conductors, posing a significant risk to students.

Despite this, new school buildings constructed under Chief Minister’s plan in Jamshedpur, including BPM Plus Two Vidyalaya, Sakchi Balika Plus Two Vidyalaya, and the Government Model School, have not been equipped with lightning arresters or fire extinguishers. These structures were built in the 2022–2023 fiscal year.

District Education Officer Nirmala Kumari Barelia stated that during the headmasters’ meeting, all school leaders were instructed to seek permission from the school management committee for the installation of lightning conductors and fire extinguishers. The installations are to be supervised by the school development head and the department should be notified upon completion.