Five die as lightning bolt hits transformer

Lightning hits transformer leading to short circuit in 20 houses

KOHAT: At least five people, including three women were electrocuted in Sur Gul Village of Kohat, while two others were seriously injured when a bolt of lightning went through transmission lines in to homes sending a huge surge of current although there was loadshedding at that time in the area.

When lightning directly strikes a power transmission line (or phase), it causes voltage on the affected line to jump to a million volts or more within millionths of a second. High-voltage surges also travel along the transmission line towards supply and downstream substations.

The local people of Sur Gul told Daily Express that heavy transmission line tore off from the pylon and fell on the transformer which caused very high voltage in the area.

There was a sudden surge in current and many homes suffered short circuit as insulation failed to hold the power. The victims came in contact with an appliance or wire resulting in deaths and injuries.

At least 20 homes and a mosque were affected in the vicinity where all appliances were turned to ashes.



The deceased included Tariq, Ayaz and Gul Nawaz, Mrs Gul Nawaz and Mrs Javed.

Two injured women were shifted to CMH Kohat for treatment.

The local people blamed Wapda and PESCO for the incident, while the authorities said they were helpless against lightning from the skies. However, PESCO has formed a committee to investigate the matter. Meanwhile two people died in roof collapse in Dir Upper as snowfall and rains gripped entire north of K-P.

Rain in Peshawar caused flooded streets and breakdown of sewerage system in many areas. PDMA has issued landslide and avalanche threats in mountainous areas.  The Met-office Peshawar has forecasted rain and snowfall in the Malakand, Swat, Lower and Upper Dir, Shangla, Abbottabad, Haripur and Hazaara division and rain with thunderstorm in lower areas of K-P. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2019.