Twenty-two people have lost their lives while 37 others were injured after being struck by lightning in Makwanpur district in the past 10 months.
According to available data, lightning has claimed the lives of 233 people in the district over the last decade.
An elderly woman in Thaha municipality in the district died after being struck by lightning recently. According to police, Sanu Syangbo, 63, was struck dead by a bolt of lightning that came through the roof of her home and into her kitchen where she was working.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sisu Sharma said that her head was blown apart by the lightning strike.
Similarly, lightning claimed the life of a child in Gadhi of Makwanpur, while two more children died after being struck by the thunder bolt in Manthali on April 13.
“Every month we receive at least two patients who have been seriously injured after being struck by lightning,” said a health personnel working in the district hospital.
“In the past, we used to be afraid anticipating major floods or landslides whenever the water levels in the local stream rose following heavy rains giving. But off late, deaths caused by lightning strikes have become so common that it has become a major cause of our concern,” said local Laxman Majhi.
Despite the gradual rise in the number of deaths caused by lightning strike, the government has been indifferent to the plight of people in Makwanpur, complained civil society leader Shiva Koirala.
“We are aware of the situation and have taken necessary measures to spread awareness regarding lightning strike an taking preventive measures,” said Chief District Officer Bhoraj Khatiwada.
The gradual rise in the number of persons becoming victim to lightning calls for a detailed study, said assistant CDO Chandra Bahadur Karki, stating that the rise in death toll was indeed
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