Bantwal: Village bids tearful farewell to teen killed by lightning strike

Team Udayavani, Nov 19, 2024, 8:41 AM IST

Bantwal: Subodh, a 14-year-old boy from Peramogru, Muriyaaje in Kedila village, tragically lost his life after being struck by lightning on November 17. The boy’s funeral was held on Monday, with the entire village coming together to bid him a tearful farewell.

The sudden demise of the eldest son, has devastated his parents and deeply impacted his twin younger brothers, Chintan and Chintak. Subodh was the son of Chandrahass and Subhashini, residents of Muriyaaje. Chandrahass works as a driver transporting water bottles.

The tragic incident
On November 17, around 4:30 PM, while Chandrahass was away, Subodh’s mother was busy in the kitchen as the children played in the sit-out area. Suddenly, lightning struck, causing panic among the twin brothers, who ran away in fear. Subodh, however, collapsed at the spot. His mother, who felt a minor electric shock, rushed outside and found her son unconscious.

She immediately informed her husband, and Subodh was taken to a nearby clinic in Mani. Following the doctor’s advice, he was shifted to a hospital in Puttur, but his life could not be saved.

Possible lightning strike on a coconut tree

The family lives in a tiled-roof house with a cemented sit-out. There were no visible signs of a lightning strike on the house. However, a nearby coconut tree appeared scorched, raising suspicions that it might have been struck by lightning. Experts suggest that it could take 2–3 days for the full impact on the tree to become evident.

Official response

Bantwal Tahsildar Archana D. Bhat visited the grieving family to console them and assured prompt measures for providing financial aid. Local MLA from Puttur has also issued directions to ensure necessary support. Preliminary findings suggest that the lightning may have caused a spinal injury, but clarity will emerge after receiving the medical report.

Harish V. Valthaje, President of Kedila Gram Panchayat, accompanied the tahsildar during the visit. A case has been registered at Puttur City Police Station.

A promising student

Subodh was known as a bright and active student, excelling in academics and earning high marks in his midterm exams. He was also passionate about art and spent his free time drawing, according to school sources.

The village mourns the loss of a young talent, and the incident has left the community in shock.