Lightning accidents in Vagamon

Vagamon in Idukki district is a popular tourist spot where many people, both foreign and Indian, visit the barren hill (മൊട്ടക്കുന്നു്) and other locations. Being a hilly area and prone to heavy thunderstorms during the pre-monsoon and North-East monsoon seasons, naturally, many lightning accidents also occur. Two doctors from Kozhikode who visited the area with their wives lost their lives in August 2014 while standing on the hilltop. At that time, the district Collector had announce that lightning protection systems would be installed there to prevent such accidents in future.

Report on lightning threat in Vagamon.

Eventually, the District authorities invited LARC to visit the area and suggest a solution to the problem. On an invitation from the local authorities, wo experts from LARC visited the place and held discussions with the authorities regarding lightning protection systems for tourists in the area with emphasis on the Mottakkunnu (മൊട്ടക്കുന്നു്), which is one of the spots frequented by tourists. We held discussions with several officials and the MLA and returned promising to come up with suggestions. They also wanted us to conduct an awareness programme for an invited audience on June 2nd.

The District Panchayath President, MLA Ms Bijimol, Dr. V. Sasi Kumar and the DTPC Secretary Sri Francis at the meeting in Vagamon.

A view of the meeting at Vagamon

District-wise distribution of lightning accidents in the state in 2015

LARC has been collecting data on lightning accidents in the state during the last couple of seasons. Given here is a chart showing the number of lightning accidents in all districts. As reported earlier by Dr. S. Murali Das from the Centre for Earth Science Studies, the highest number of accidents has been reported from Kannur district, though the largest contribution is from damage to houses and buildings. This indicates the need for many more installations of external lightning protection systems.  After Kannur, the highest numbers are reported fromKollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts, which have reported about the same number. Thus, the districts that need greatest effort in lightning awareness campaign are Kannur, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. We hope to report results of more in-depth analysis of the data soon.

District-wise distribution of lightning accidents during the period January to May 2015.

Lightning Accidents on Kerala in the Year 2013

LARC has been collecting data on lightning accidents reported in newspapers over several months from about September 2013 to June 2014 and later. The graph shown on the left is based on the data for 2013.

It shows that most of the accidents result in damages to buildings and equipment. After that come injuries due to lightning. Death due to lightning is the least. Most of these accidents have occurred due to unawareness about lightning. If you understand personal safety measures deaths and injuries due to lightning can be avoided. For protecting your house from lightning you had to install external lightning protection system and to protect your equipment you had to install internal lightning protection system(Surge protection devices).

For lightning related protection measures please click here

For lightning related queries , contact Lightning Awareness and Research Centre(LARC) , Ph +91 471 2722151

or email us at cissa.larc@gmail.com

Lightning Awareness Poster in Malayalam.

Lightning Awareness Poster in Malayalam.

Lightning Awareness Poster

If anybody requires the hardcopy of the poster, please contact Lightning Awareness and Research Centre(LARC) ,

Ph +91 471 2722151

Lightning Kills two fishermen

The following report about two fishermen killed by lightning appeared in Mathrubhumi newspaper dated April 22, 2015.

News report in Mathrubhumi dated April 22, 2015.

A team from LARC visited the site and studied the accident. The team found that the incident took place around 5pm on 21/4/2015. Six fishermen were sitting inside a resting shed when the lightning hit the shed.  The roof was burned partly. The heavy rainfall that was present prevented a larger fire.

The resting shed that was hit by lightning.

There was an umbrella and an iron rod kept nearby, which probably caused the lightning to strike there. Lightning current passed through two people, and both were killed immediately. Four others nearby got only mild shock, and were given first aid.

 

The damage to the roof due to lightning.

The roof was burned partly. The heavy rainfall that was present prevented a larger fire.

Damage where lightning current probably exited.

 

Lightning Damages House in Vellarada near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State.

The following report about a house being damaged by lightning appeared in the newspaper dated April 27, 2015

The news report that appeared in Mathrubhumi daily dated April 27, 2015.

A team from LARC visited the site and studied the accident. The lightning incident took place around 5:00 pm on 24/04/15.

The house that was affected.

The team concluded that a coconut tree near the house was hit by lightning and the potential of the ground rose due to the lightning current through a phenomenon called Ground Potential Rise (GPR). As a result a large current flowed through the electrical wiring in the house. Almost all the electrical equipment was damaged. 

The coconut tree that was hit by lightning.

The engineers from LARC came to understand from the site that the lightning hit the coconut tree, and through GPR, it got coupled to the power line and wall. As a result, the electrical equipment got damaged and as the ground was live it lead to the death of cat due to step potential.

Damage to the wall due to lightning current.

 

The electricity meter damaged and thrown on the ground by the lightning current.

Call CISSA/LARC (0471-2722151) to know more about lightning and protection measures.