KATHMANDU: In the past four years, lightning strikes have resulted in 237 deaths and 908 injuries across Nepal, according to data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).
These incidents have affected areas stretching from Jhapa in Koshi Province to Kanchanpur in Sudurpaschim, and from Humla in Karnali to Dhanusha in Madhesh Province.
Roshni Kumari Shrestha, Joint Secretary at NDRRMA, identified Jhapa, Udayapur, and Makawanpur as the districts most at risk.
Between Shrawan 1, 2078 BS and Jestha 5, 2082 BS, Nepal recorded 1,118 lightning-related incidents impacting 1,607 families. Shrestha added that globally, Nepal ranks fifth in terms of lightning-related disaster risk.
She noted that homes and tall structures are particularly susceptible, and agricultural workers during the rainy season are among the most vulnerable.
Though Koshi Province experiences the highest number of lightning events, Lumbini Province has reported the most significant human and property losses.
Koshi Province saw 295 lightning incidents over the period, resulting in 51 deaths, 84 injuries, damage to 366 houses, loss of 420 livestock, and property damage worth Rs 16.45 million.
Meanwhile, Lumbini reported 180 lightning strikes, leading to 54 deaths, 165 injuries, destruction of property valued at around Rs 349 million, the death of 98 livestock, and 276 affected families.
Lightning fatalities in other provinces during this time include 35 in the Far West, 27 in Madhesh, 25 in Bagmati, 24 in Gandaki, and 21 in Karnali. Karnali also had the highest number of injuries at 207, followed by the Far West (158), Gandaki (84), Bagmati (82), and Madhesh (28).
Dr. Madan Sigdel, Associate Professor at Tribhuvan University’s Central Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, said lightning is the second leading cause of disaster-related deaths and damage in Nepal.
These events are most common from late Chaitra to Asar, during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons, when atmospheric instability increases.
Nepal’s varied geography — from mountains to plains — contributes to the high incidence of lightning.
While it cannot be prevented, Sigdel emphasized that up to 80% of the damage can be mitigated through increased public awareness. He advised scheduling outdoor tasks like farming or grazing in the morning and avoiding open areas during storms.
Although the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has installed radar systems in Udayapur, Palpa, and Surkhet for early warnings, all three are currently out of service.
According to Sigdel, once operational, these systems could issue lightning alerts 30 to 60 minutes in advance by monitoring cloud formations and strike probabilities.
