1Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Govt Medical College, Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh
2Resident, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
3Resident, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
4Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Karuna Medical College, Palakkad, Kerala
Corresponding Author Dr. Rajeev Varma Manukonda Assistant Professor, Govt Medical College, Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh. 497001 E-mail: rajeev.varma51@gmail.com
Introduction: An individual found dead in an isolated place with torn clothing, disrupted footwear, evidence of burn marks on the body, lacerations and fractured bones will really present a confusing picture to the investigation authorities and the autopsy surgeon as to the involvement of foul play. Similar picture can be present in a person struck with thunderbolt lightning. Though the manner of death is suggestive of homicide. It is in reality due to lightning stroke which is accidental in 100% of cases. The present study is undertaken to understand the various presentation of victims of lightning and to achieve the other mentioned formulated study objectives.
Objectives: To study the prevalence of deaths due to lightning during the study period, demographic profile of victims, the various injuries sustained and mechanisms involved in lightning stroke and the various safety precautions to be undertaken during an event of thunderstorm.
Methods: A Cross-sectional study design for the study of deaths due to lightning. Data collected in a data collection sheet developed considering the various study variables.The data collected is analyzed with SPSS statistical software 16.
Results:Majority of the victims are farmers (87%) in the age group of 31–50 years (78.2%) with a male predominance ratio of 7:1.
Conclusion: The importance of lightning deaths should be understood and research in this much neglected field should be intensified. A clear understanding of mechanism of lightning and varied presentations of these injuries is essential to arrive at a conclusion in a rather confused autopsy picture.People should be educated about the hazards of lightning and the safety precautions discussed should penetrate the deepest core of the society.
Thunderbolt lightning, Lightning deaths, Safety precautions, Litchenburg figures, Blast effect, Mechanism of lightning
