Ranchi, Aug 20: The Jharkhand government is preparing a comprehensive action plan to reduce fatalities caused by lightning strikes, drowning, snakebites and road accidents, a senior official said on Thursday.The state Disaster Management Department has developed an integrated digital platform, ‘Jharkhand Disaster Relief Management’, which has been tested on a pilot basis in Dhanbad and Bokaro districts.
The portal is expected to be expanded across the state after assessment of the pilot project, officials said.According to the department, Jharkhand faces significant human losses from four major hazards — lightning, drowning, snakebites and road accidents.The proposed portal will bring together information on vulnerable locations, safety measures, awareness programmes and other disaster-management resources to help authorities respond more effectively and prevent casualties.
Official data cited by the department showed that 431 people died in Jharkhand due to various disasters during a three-month period last year, excluding road accidents. Lightning accounted for 180 deaths, while 161 people drowned and 80 died following snakebite incidents.The state recorded 9,438 snakebite cases between 2022 and April 2026, while around 100 people have reportedly died in lightning incidents this year.
Road accidents also remain a major concern, with approximately 3,000 fatalities reported annually in the state.As part of its drowning-prevention measures, the department has identified vulnerable water bodies and is incorporating their locations into the digital platform.Forty-eight personnel, with two trained from each district, have received specialised deep-diving training for rescue operations.
The government also plans to train nearly 500 first and second responders, including local residents, Home Guards and police personnel, for deployment near vulnerable water bodies during the monsoon.The department is also focusing on public awareness to prevent lightning and snakebite fatalities. Awareness programmes were conducted in around 900 government and private schools during the previous financial year.
The portal will also identify accident-prone locations and road black spots, enabling authorities to focus preventive measures in areas where the risk of road accidents is high.Officials said the digital platform could also facilitate the submission of compensation claims by affected families, potentially simplifying the process.The National Health Mission in Jharkhand is supporting the initiative, with civil surgeons instructed to implement the national protocol for snakebite management.
Officials have also stressed the importance of reaching medical facilities quickly after a snakebite.The national action plan on snakebite management aims to reduce deaths and disabilities caused by snakebites by 50 per cent by 2030.Experts noted that although Jharkhand is home to more than 250 snake species, only a proportion are venomous.
They also stressed the need for timely medical intervention and awareness to prevent panic and inappropriate responses following snakebite incidents.The state government’s initiative aims to combine technology, trained personnel, healthcare support and community awareness to reduce preventable deaths and strengthen disaster preparedness across Jharkhand.
