Nine Schoolgirls Faint Following Lightning Strike at Koderma's St. Maurya School, Investigation Launched
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Synopsis
On April 9, nine schoolgirls collapsed after a lightning strike hit St. Maurya School in Markacho, Koderma district, triggering panic and an immediate medical response. An investigation has been ordered, revealing that the school lacked necessary safety infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
- At least nine girls fainted due to lightning at St. Maurya School.
- Immediate medical attention was provided, and all are safe.
- The school is temporarily closed for safety reviews.
- Investigation revealed lack of lightning conductors.
- Jharkhand is prone to lightning strikes, with safety measures lacking.
Koderma, April 9 (NationPress) At least nine schoolgirls lost consciousness after a lightning bolt hit St. Maurya School in Markacho, located in Jharkhand's Koderma district, on Wednesday, according to officials. The incident created chaos among students and teachers on the premises, leading to urgent medical assistance and an administrative inquiry.
The girls were playing outside during a light drizzle when a sudden loud thunderclap caused them to collapse.
They were quickly transported to the community health center at the Markacho block headquarters, where doctors provided initial care and confirmed that all nine are now safe.
Eyewitnesses reported that the sound of the lightning strike incited panic, with other students shrieking in terror.
Teachers and local residents acted swiftly, using a school van to rush the girls to the hospital.
In the aftermath, the district administration has called for an investigation and assured the local community that the school's safety measures will undergo a thorough evaluation.
St. Maurya School, situated in Lalkipani village under Paplo Panchayat, has been temporarily shut down.
Initial reports indicated that the school did not have a lightning conductor, which is a safety requirement for educational facilities.
Officials also uncovered that the school's infrastructure did not comply with necessary safety standards.
Jharkhand is recognized as one of six states identified by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) as particularly susceptible to lightning incidents.
In 2008, following a similar incident at a school in Ranchi, the state government mandated the installation of lightning conductors in all government schools—a directive that has seen minimal implementation.
While regulations also call for lightning protection in private schools, enforcement has been inconsistent.
In Jharkhand, lightning is categorized as a specific disaster. In 2019, the Disaster Management Department launched an SMS alert system, but its effectiveness is hindered by poor mobile network coverage and the fact that many users do not have location services activated on their devices.
