Hazard: A class-eight student died following a lightning strike in Martshalla middle secondary school on August 14.

Twelve other students were admitted to Basic Health Units (BHU) suffering from shock and minor injuries.

The students are now in stable condition according to health officials.

The incident occurred at around 2:30pm when the deceased with his friends were returning to their hostel from a football ground.

The deceased suffered major burns on the back.

Principal Kinga Loday said they immediately rushed the deceased to the BHU but the health assistant declared him dead on arrival.

He said there was a sudden heavy rainfall before the incident but that it had stopped and was only drizzling when the lightning occurred.

Students in other areas, including two girls in the hostel, were admitted to the BHU for observation.

Five students were admitted to the Martshalla gewog BHU while seven were sent to the Samdrupcholing dungkhag BHU because they suffered burns on their legs and hands.

Martshalla is about 13km from Samdrupcholing.

This is the third such incident in Samdrupcholing dungkhag.

Yangchen C Rinzin |  Samdrupjongkhar