Suraj Gurung | Intern

SAMTSE — A de-suup lost his life when struck by lightning during a powerful thunderstorm.

The unfortunate event unfolded on June 25 at the de-suup duty house in Phokhari Dara, (OP-1) in Samtse.

At around 1pm, thunder boomed and lightning illuminated the sky, casting an ominous atmosphere over the area.

Present at the scene were on-duty police officers and two de-suups who had sought shelter indoors due to the lack of electricity.

Eyewitnesses recounted that as the lightning struck, it directly hit the mini circuit breaker (MCB), resulting in a fatal impact on the de-suup who was lying on the ground.

Another de-suup, who survived with minor injuries, recalled sitting on the floor while their fallen comrade lay nearby.

A police officer was also seated in close proximity. Both survivors were momentarily rendered unconscious as the lightning struck the MCB and swiftly exited the room.

Upon regaining consciousness, they were met with the sight of their friend lying motionless on the ground. Despite repeatedly calling out to him, there was no response. Concerned for his well-being, they rushed to his side and discovered that he was struggling to breathe.

The on-duty police officer acted swiftly, contacting emergency services, summoning an ambulance, and informing their superiors of the tragic incident. The injured de-suup was swiftly transported to the hospital with utmost urgency.

However, upon arrival at the hospital, the attending doctor declared the victim deceased.

The survivors, while grappling with the profound loss, expressed their regret that despite their best efforts, they were unable to save their comrade’s life.