Trying to capture a picture of lightning proves fatal for Chennai man

A 43 year old man’s over enthusiasm proved fatal as he tried to capture a picture of lightning that eventually lead to his death.

Thiruvallur district has been experiencing heavy to very heavy rains in the past couple of days accompanied by heavy sightings of lightning in the vicinity. At least two other people have been killed in unfortunate events regarding lightning related incidents in the past few days.

Police identified the deceased as H M Ramesh of Thuraippaakm near Chennai and said the incident took place when he was visiting a friend’s shrimp farm in Sunnampukkulam.

“Around 3.30 PM, Ramesh tried to take a photo of lightning with his smartphone camera. But, the lightning struck Ramesh and he collapsed. When his friends tried to pick him up, they found injuries in his face and the chest,” said police sources from the nearby Arambakkam station.

Arambakkam police sent the body to the Ponneri Government hospital for autopsy. Ramesh leaves behind a wife, Uma(38), and a daughter, Zia(13).

Following this incident, the Thiruvallur district police has issued warnings to people against trying to take photographs of lightning.

Whilst in other news around Bangladesh it was observed that in May, 2018, lightning occurred about 109 times which caused death of 119 persons and seriously injured 37 persons. Some other incidents were frequent in number but caused less harm to human lives and nationally, in various parts of Uttar Pradesh, thunderstorm and lightning claimed 15 lives and injured 10 people. At least three persons including a woman were killed and four others were injured in lightning strikes in Odisha’s Kalahandi district on May 31st.

Thus, as the nation braces for monsoons it remains to be seen how many more lives are lost to it’s wrath.