INDIA — If you hear thunder or see nearby lightning, go immediately into a substantial enclosed building or a fully enclosed hard-topped vehicle with its windows closed. Do not shelter beneath an isolated tree, open shed or metal-roofed roadside shelter. If someone is struck or seriously injured, call India’s emergency number 112.
Lightning can injure people before heavy rain begins and even when the storm appears some distance away. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warns that hearing thunder means you may be close enough to be struck. There is no reliably safe place outdoors during an active thunderstorm.
12 immediate actions — lightning and thunderstorm survival checklist
- Seek proper shelter now. Use a substantial enclosed building or fully enclosed hard-topped vehicle rather than remaining in an open field.
- Leave hills, fields and exposed rooftops. Do not stay in the tallest or most exposed position.
- Never shelter under an isolated tree. Trees can be struck, and current may spread to people nearby.
- Get out of swimming pools, rivers, lakes and boats. Move to land and enter a safe building when possible.
- Get off bicycles, motorcycles and farm machinery. Do not treat an open vehicle as lightning protection.
- Avoid exposed metal fences, poles and power lines. Stay away from electrical infrastructure and downed wires.
- Inside, avoid corded phones and wired electrical equipment. Do not touch connected appliances during active lightning.
- Avoid bathing, showering and running water. Lightning current can travel along plumbing and electrical systems.
- Keep away from windows, doors and balconies. Do not watch lightning from an exposed opening.
- If no safe shelter is reachable, reduce exposure without lying flat. Avoid tall objects and flood-prone areas; a low crouch with feet together is only a last resort, not a safe substitute for shelter.
- If someone is struck, call 112 and begin appropriate first aid. Lightning victims do not retain an electrical charge and can be touched when the scene is safe.
- Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before going out. More lightning can occur after the rain eases.
If you are exposed to lightning right now, get to proper shelter instead of reading a long explanation. Follow current IMD alerts and local emergency directions.
Why thunder means the danger is already close
Lightning is an electrical discharge that can occur within storms and sometimes beyond their heaviest rainfall. A cloud may look distant, but it can generate lightning capable of striking outside the area where rain is falling. That is why IMD advises using the sound of thunder as a warning to take shelter.
Do not try to decide whether it is safe by counting the seconds between lightning and thunder while remaining outdoors. The safest choice is to enter a protected place as soon as you hear thunder. A thunderstorm alert from an app is useful preparation, but the absence of an alert does not guarantee that the sky is safe.
Storms may also bring strong wind, hail, falling branches and rapidly rising water. A location that appears sheltered from wind may offer no meaningful protection against lightning. In particular, standing beneath an isolated tall tree can expose a person to a direct strike or electrical current spreading through the ground.
What counts as proper shelter in India?
A substantial building with walls, a roof and suitable electrical and plumbing systems provides much better protection than an open-sided bus stop, temporary tent or roadside shelter. Once indoors, remain away from open windows, balconies, metal door frames, connected equipment and plumbing while the storm continues.
A fully enclosed hard-topped vehicle can offer protection because the metal body helps carry electrical current around occupants. This is not due to the rubber tyres, and it does not apply to motorcycles, bicycles, open tractors or soft-topped open vehicles. Keep windows closed, avoid touching exposed metal connected to the vehicle body and park away from trees and overhead power lines.
A small hut, open verandah or structure with only a sheet-metal roof may not provide reliable protection. If you are in an area with fragile buildings, use the strongest appropriate enclosed shelter available. Always consider flood and wind hazards when choosing the route.
What to do in an open field or farmland
Farmers, agricultural workers and other people working outdoors can be caught far from a sturdy building. Stop fieldwork when thunder is heard and move to a safe structure early; do not try to finish one more row of crops or load machinery in an exposed place.
Stay clear of isolated trees, metal fences, utility poles, hilltops and open water. Farming equipment, irrigation lines and overhead power infrastructure can increase the danger when they create conductive paths. Avoid touching them during active lightning.
If there is absolutely no safe shelter within reach, the IMD’s public guidance describes making yourself a smaller target by crouching low with feet together and head down, and warns against lying flat on the ground. This is an emergency last resort, not a reliable protection method. It is still important to reach appropriate shelter as soon as it becomes safely possible.
Do not choose a low-lying ditch if stormwater can flood it, especially during heavy rain. Flash flooding and lightning may occur together, so assess both hazards.
What if you are riding a motorcycle or bicycle?
A motorcycle or bicycle provides no enclosed lightning protection. Stop using the vehicle when safe, leave the exposed road or open space, and enter a substantial building. A helmet alone does not prevent serious lightning injury.
Do not stand beside an isolated roadside tree simply to escape rainfall. A rider who stops beneath a large exposed tree can be at greater risk than someone who enters a safer enclosed building. Follow road rules and avoid a sudden stop in moving traffic when trying to reach shelter.
If travelling in a fully enclosed hard-topped car, park in a safe location away from vulnerable trees, unstable signs, overhead electric wires and floodwater. Keep windows closed and avoid contact with metal components where possible. Wait for the storm to pass before returning to normal travel.
Why you should avoid showers, taps and connected appliances
Lightning may travel through plumbing, electrical wiring and other conductive pathways. During an active thunderstorm, IMD advises avoiding baths, showers, running water, corded telephones and connected electrical equipment. Do not use a wired computer at a desk simply because you are inside a building.
A mobile phone that is not plugged into a charger does not create the same conductive connection as a corded landline. It can be used from a protected indoor position to receive an emergency message or call for help. Do not stand outside filming lightning with your phone.
Unplugging equipment before a storm can reduce some surge risks, but do not start touching live connections or rearranging wiring when lightning is already close. Protect yourself first, and inspect damage only after conditions are safe.
Children at school or on a sports field
A school should stop outdoor sport, assembly and playground activity when thunder or lightning threatens. Students need a clear indoor location and responsible staff supervision. Do not ask children to shelter under trees or remain at an exposed goalpost, boundary fence or metal pavilion.
Coaches should plan for thunderstorm interruptions before outdoor matches. The return time is not simply when rain stops: wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder, as recommended by Indian disaster-management guidance, and extend the waiting period if thunder resumes.
If a child becomes frightened, give a short explanation: “We can hear thunder, so we go inside and wait.” A calm routine helps young children comply quickly without needing to understand electrical science during the emergency.
What to do near a river, pool, beach or fishing boat
Leave swimming pools and open water promptly. Water-related activities expose people to lightning risk and complicate rescue. Get to land and enter a safe enclosed building, rather than waiting under a lakeside tree or open shelter.
On a boat, return to shore at the earliest safely possible point before the storm develops. Do not attempt a dangerous crossing through waves or severe wind solely to reach a distant dock when local rescue guidance offers another action. Ask emergency services for assistance when stranded.
Avoid fishing rods, exposed piers, wet metal railings and isolated docks during thunderstorms. Even if there is no visible lightning overhead, distant storms can still produce dangerous discharges.
What to do if someone is struck by lightning
Lightning victims do not store electrical charge. Once the area is safe from additional strikes and other hazards, it is safe to touch the person and begin rescue. Call India’s 112 emergency number immediately and say that someone has been struck by lightning. Give your exact village, road, building or landmark and describe their consciousness and breathing.
If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, begin CPR according to the emergency call-taker’s instructions. If an AED is available, have another person retrieve it and follow its instructions without delaying CPR. Do not wait for a burn mark before helping: a strike can seriously disrupt the heart and nervous system even when skin injury appears limited.
If breathing is normal, keep the person in a safe position, protect them from further harm and follow dispatcher advice. Watch for burns, fractures, injuries from a fall, confusion, hearing problems or changes in vision. IMD advises hospital evaluation after a lightning strike.
Do not crowd around the casualty in an exposed field while the storm is still active. Helpers must first consider their own safety and move to a safer location when possible. Providing rescue does not justify creating additional victims.
The difference between a direct strike and ground current
A person may be injured when lightning strikes the body directly, but direct strikes are not the only danger. Current can spread through the ground near a struck tree or structure, travel through conductive objects or jump from one object to another. This explains why a person standing near a tree, metal fence or electrical pole can be injured without being the main point of contact.
Wet surfaces and exposed locations make risk harder to manage. Shoes with rubber soles do not provide reliable lightning protection, and neither do ordinary car tyres. The protective feature of a fully enclosed hard-topped vehicle is its body and electrical pathway, not the tyre material.
Weather warnings and the Damini application
India Meteorological Department forecasts and short-term thunderstorm warnings can help residents plan travel, agriculture, construction and school activities. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s Damini lightning-alert application is also listed among disaster-risk-reduction mobile applications by India’s National Institute of Disaster Management.
These tools can improve awareness of lightning near a location, but warnings and notifications have technical and timing limits. A sudden local thunderstorm may develop before a message is read. Use an app as another source of information, not as permission to remain outdoors after hearing thunder.
For ongoing severe-weather conditions, follow IMD and local disaster-management advisories. Conditions vary by state, terrain, season and the actual storm’s movement.
What to avoid during a lightning storm
- Do not stand under an isolated tree, even if the rain is heavy.
- Do not lie flat on open ground. It increases exposure to ground current.
- Do not rely on rubber shoes, umbrellas or tyres as a protective barrier.
- Do not shelter in an open metal shed merely because it has a roof.
- Do not swim, fish or remain on an exposed boat in active lightning.
- Do not touch downed electricity cables or investigate damaged outdoor wiring.
- Do not use a corded phone or shower while lightning is active.
- Do not return outside immediately when the rain ends if thunder has been heard recently.
Prepare before monsoon and thunderstorm season
- Identify sturdy enclosed shelter near frequently used fields, schools, outdoor workplaces and sports grounds.
- Check IMD weather warnings and learn where Damini alerts can be accessed.
- Arrange an early stopping rule for farm work, swimming and school sports.
- Keep children, animals and essential supplies inside when storms approach.
- Know the 112 emergency number and the clearest address or landmark for dispatch.
- Charge phones, keep a torch available and protect important equipment before the storm.
- Discuss safe travel alternatives for people normally using motorcycles or bicycles.
- Learn CPR and how to ask for an AED without delaying emergency care.
- Avoid planning outdoor gatherings in exposed places when strong thunderstorms are forecast.
- Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before resuming outside activities.
Frequently asked questions
Is it dangerous if I hear thunder but cannot see lightning?
Yes. Hearing thunder means lightning is close enough to be a potential danger. Seek proper shelter.
Can I stay under a big tree?
No. IMD advises against sheltering beneath trees because lightning and ground current can cause severe injury.
Is a car safe during lightning?
A fully enclosed hard-topped vehicle with windows closed is a much safer location than an open field, provided it is parked away from trees, power lines and flood hazards. Motorcycles and open vehicles do not offer comparable protection.
Should I crouch outside if I cannot find a building?
IMD describes a low crouch with feet together rather than lying flat as a last resort. It does not make an exposed place safe. Proper enclosed shelter remains the priority.
Can I touch somebody who was struck by lightning?
Yes, once the scene is safe. Lightning victims do not retain an electrical charge. Call 112 and provide emergency first aid.
How long should I remain indoors after the last thunder?
Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder, and longer if thunder resumes or official warnings require it.
What number should I call for a lightning injury in India?
Call 112 through India’s nationwide Emergency Response Support System and provide the exact location and the person’s condition.
Remember the essential rule
Hear thunder? Go inside. Avoid trees, water and connected electrical equipment. Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder. If someone is struck, call 112 and begin safe emergency first aid.
Related reading: What to Do When Someone Has Heatstroke in India.
Official sources
- India Meteorological Department — Thunderstorm and Lightning Do’s and Don’ts (2025)
- India Meteorological Department — Thunderstorm Safety Guidance
- National Institute of Disaster Management — Disaster Risk Reduction Mobile Applications
- India Emergency Response Support System — 112
- Ministry of Home Affairs — Lightning and Damini Awareness
Independent public-information guide. Reviewed 5 November 2026. Follow live IMD and local emergency instructions. No outdoor position guarantees protection from lightning.