Lightning claims 30 this year

Disna MUDALIGE

Lightning has claimed 30 lives this year, Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera told a press conference at the Meteorology Department yesterday. He requested the public to take precautions to avoid lightning accidents which can increase in October and November with the inter-monsoonal rains.

According to statistics, 34 deaths from lightning were reported last year. The national awareness programme on lightning safety organized by the ministry will begin on September 15 at the Sripali University in Horana, Kalutara district was selected to launch this campaign since it has reported the highest number of lightning incidents.

The aim of this campaign is to reach rural village communities. It was a recommendation of the committee appointed according to a decision arrived at the Parliamentary Consultative Committee Meeting on February 10.

The awareness programme will include the dangers of lightening, precautions and how to provide first aid to a person struck by lightening.

Colombo University Physics Department senior lecturer Dr Chandana Jayaratne said that 85 percent of the deaths due to lightening had taken place outdoors.

He noted that 80 percent of these deaths could have been prevented if those individuals received proper first aid treatment. Dr Jayaratne said that only 34 percent of them had died due to direct lightening strikes. He also revealed that 85 percent of the property damages from lightening has caused from telephone lines and electric transmission lines.

He observed that the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) has introduced standards for houses and domestic appliances to avoid lightening accidents. He noted that public must be guided to follow these standards. Dr Jayaratne noted that acidity in soil and geological dislocation are also connected in lightening strikes. He said that a survey is being conducted to find out the effect of wind pattern in lightening.

Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Deputy Director Dharmasiri de Alwis rejected the claim that lightening accidents have increased due to telecommunication towers. He observed that those have contributed towards lessening lightening accidents since those earth the current coming from lightening.

Meteorology Department Director General G B Samarasinghe and Medical Administrators of Sri Lanka President Dr Anil Jasinghe also spoke.