Lightning was responsible for a significant percentage (35.8 per cent) of the 8,060 accidental deaths in India attributable to natural forces in 2022, according to the latest National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) report. On December 1, 2023, the NCRB released its 56th annual edition of Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India, which contained data for 2022. Heat / sun stroke led to 9.1 per cent accidental deaths in India due to forces of nature, the report said. “About 8.9 per cent of these accidental deaths (caused by forces of nature) recorded took place due to exposure to the cold,” it said. A large chunk of the people who succumbed to accidents due to forces of nature belonged to two specific age-groups, the report stated. “About 32.1 per cent of these belonged to the age groups above 60 years and 23.7 per cent were aged between 30 and 45 years,” it said