A Day That Started Like All Others
For shepherd Dhana Bahadur Kharga of Patarasi, Jumla, the day began like any other, taking his herd to the high pasture fields known as 'Patan'. But it ended with an unfathomable, life-changing event. A sudden, powerful lightning strike killed 217 sheep and injured all the shepherds, devastating the only livelihood for 11 local families already struggling with economic hardship.
"When we regained consciousness, we saw that all of our sheep had been struck and were lying dead. This made me feel sick and I fainted again."
- Dhana Bahadur Kharga, Shepherd, Patarasi Village
A Commonly Overlooked Hazard
While often overlooked, lightning is the third highest cause of death and injury among Nepal's natural disasters. Each year, an estimated 100-200 people die from lightning strikes, with financial losses around NRs 21.4 million (USD 182,000). As part of the USAID Tayar Nepal project, PARC provides embedded communication support to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) to raise public awareness on such hazards.
Responding Quickly to the Jumla Lightning Strike
When the news from Jumla spread, NDRRMA immediately took action. They enlisted PARC to develop a rapid awareness video and messaging campaign about the risks of lightning during monsoon season, especially for those in agriculture. The short video was disseminated through 10 posts, reaching over 3,300 people and generating more than 400 direct engagements.
"The communication and PSA activities are highly relevant and necessary... to save lives and property during the time of disaster.”
- Mr. Janardan Gautam, Under-Secretary, NDRRMA
From Outreach to Lasting Change
The outreach prompted immediate and long-term change. Local authorities in Jumla, after seeing the video, offered immediate food relief to the 11 affected households. More importantly, the campaign sparked a new conversation about safety and preparedness. The District Livestock Office now recommends providing compensation for livestock losses, and for the first time, local herders began registering with the Livestock Insurance Department to protect their livelihoods from future disasters.
"The sheep herders are now more aware, taking safety precautions... They have been informed to steer clear of sparse forests where lightning can strike anytime.”
- Dil Bahadur Budha, Ward Chairperson of Patarasi Village, Jumla
“For us, to be able to report these incidents and their full impact to the central and provincial level and create awareness itself is a big step towards disaster risk reduction.”
- Mr. Prabin Khadka, Director, PARC
