Lightning is a natural hazard that poses a significant threat to human safety. Uttar Pradesh has reported 1040 deaths since last three years. Highest deaths are reported in Sonbhadra (109), Mirzapur (77) and Prayagraj (75) district. The rationale of Lightning Safety and Awareness a Pilot Program is to promote education, awareness, and proper safety measures to reduce the risk of lightning related injuries and fatalities. The Purpose of the program is to create a safer and more informed society by education about the danger and threat lightning and how to stay safe during lightning.

The program Key objective was: (i) To sensitize Community, Officials and Volunteers about Lightning Awareness and Safety measures; (ii) To motivate Direct and Voluntarily Participation of Key Stakeholders in activities that would help building towards a disaster resilient environment in community ; (iii) To promote capacity building of Community and officials in 04 major lightning affected districts Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Lalitpur and Prayagraj; and (iv) To sensitize Block level Officials on Lightning Awareness and Safety measures cover ing all 51 Blocks of Sonbhadra, Mirzapur Lalitpur and Prayagraj. (v) To sensitize Frontline workers and Village Community members on Lightning Awareness and Safety measures covering all 3393 Gram Panchayats of Sonbhadra, Mirzapur Lalitpur and Prayagraj.

The Lightning Safety and Awareness Program achieved its objectives by promoting education, awareness, and proper safety measures. The program reached a wide audience including Govt. Officials, Frontline Workers, Village Community members Volunteers and general public and raised awareness about dangers of lightning and how to stay safe during lightning.

The Lightning Safety and Awareness Program project aimed to educate people about the dangers of lightning and how to stay safe during thunderstorms.

program had several outputs, including:

Education and Training through District and Block Level Training Workshop:
The program provided education and training on lightning safety through presentations, lectures, and interactive sessions. The sessions covered topics such as how lightning forms, the different types of lightning strikes, and how to stay safe during thunderstorms. The sessions also covered topics such as how Damini App can play a vital role for enhancing Lightning Early Warning dissemination. The program provided participants with hands-on training and practical experience in lightning safety techniques.

Information Materials:
The program produced and distributed a range of information materials, including Training Manual, brochures, posters, and videos, that provided information on lightning safety, prevention, and first aid.

Awareness Campaign:
The program launched a public awareness campaign through E Rickshaw on lightning safety, using public service announcements, and other media channels to reach a wide audience. The campaign aimed to increase public awareness of lightning safety and encourage people to take necessary precautions during Lightning and thunderstorms. These outputs helped to achieve the program's objectives by promoting education, awareness, and proper safety measures. They reached a wide audience, including Govt. officers, Frontline workers , and the public , and raised awareness about the dangers of lightning and how to stay safe during thunderstorms.

The Lightning Safety - Awareness Program, by Uttar Pradesh Disaster Management Authority (UPSDMA) started in December 2022. It visions to generate awareness in Govt. Officers, Frontline workers, and village community members in lightning awareness and safety measures in a comprehensive manner. The program’s aim was to create a safer and more informed society by reducing the risk of lightning - related injuries and fatalities through education, awareness, and proper safety measures.

Under the project, several activities were carried out which include District Level Training Workshop, Block Level Training workshop, and Gram Panchayat Level Training workshop. The program launched a public awareness campaign through E - Rickshaw on lightning safety, using public service announcements (Loudspeaker & Mike) , and other media channels to reach a wide audience. The campaign aimed to increase public awareness of lightning safety and encourage people to take necessary precautions during Lightning and thunderstorms.

Under the Project, trained 506 District Level Govt Officers under District Level Training on Lightning Safety and including the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, Chief Development Officers, Additional District Magistrates, Chief Medical Officers, SDMs, Deputy SP, COs, Chief Fire Officer, Assistant Engineers Irrigation & PWD,District Basic Education Officer, District Inspector of School, Tehsildar, Nayab Tehsildar, ADO Panchayat from Project target districts.

Under the Project, trained 4073 Block Level Govt Officers under Block Level Training on Lightning Safety and Awareness including BDOs, ADOs, Tehsildars, Nayab Tehsildars, Lekhpal, Gram Panchayat Sachiv, Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari, Safai Karmi from 23 Blocks of Prayagraj, 12 Blocks of Mirzapur , 06 blocks of Lalitpur and 10 Blocks of Sonbhadra district.

Under the Project, trained 101797 Village community members (including front - line workers, PRIs members, SHG members) under Gram Panchayat Level Training of 3393 Gram Panchayats of 04 Districts on Lightning Safety. Main objectives of the Gram Panchayat level Training are to sensitize and aware community and PRIs members on Lightning safety measures.