News
One killed, 5 injured by lightning; public warned
View(s):One person was killed and five others, including four primary students were injured after being struck by lightning since the start of this week even as the authorities repeatedly cautioned the general public to take extra precautions against such activity in order to minimise damage to life and property.
On Thursday a 61-year-old woman was killed on the spot and her 19-year-old son injured when a bolt of lightning hit their home in Paranagama at Polonnaruwa during bad weather.
The dead woman was identified as S. Periam. Her son was being treated at the Polonnaruwa Hospital, according to police. In a separate incident on the previous day four primary students were treated for shock after they were rattled by a bolt of lightning while at their school in
Matale.
The students were later treated for shock at the Matale Hospital and discharged.
Met. Department officials have repeatedly advised the public to take extra precautions during lightning activity and have also predicted more wet weather in most parts of the country during the course of next week.
(LB)