In the past, there was only a handful of tall buildings in Goa, but in recent years, tens of 8-storey buildings have come up, and taller ones are in the offing. Goa witnesses intense thunder and lightning before and during the monsoon months. Recently, there have been reports of lightning killing people and damaging trees, buildings, and houses. This is because lightning carries within it thousands of volts. Scientists have predicted that because of the warming of the Arabian Sea, there could be more frequent extreme weather events that would affect the states along the west coast of India.
A simple arrester/rod/conductor helps to ground the high voltage current that hits the earth during lightning and keeps the buildings safe from developing cracks and fissures. The device is easy to install, does not occupy space, and even a good electrician can install it. We could save our valuable assets by installing the arresters that cost only a few thousand rupees.
The Goa government could mandate lightning rods for new buildings of 5 storeys or more, and without these, occupancy certificates should not be issued. The older, taller buildings and houses that are less than 5 storeys should be encouraged to have lightning rods. Insurance companies could also play a role by refusing to insure structures that do not have lightning rods, and in case these are absent, the compensation should be reduced.
