THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Lightning Awareness and Research Centre (LARC), which is part of the Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA), has issued safety guidelines to be followed during the ongoing Northeast Monsoon season.
According to LARC, personal protection against lightning can be ensured only by avoiding objects and locations which can become ‘live’ during lightning. All objects with cable connection such as land telephone, cable TV, wired internet modems and all devices connected to electric power should be disconnected during lightning.
However, public should avoid removing connections of equipments connected to the wall plug when lightning strikes. People should also keep away from water pipes and taps, including those in the kitchen, during lightning.
As walls, doors and windows of the house will become live during lightning, one has to keep away from these frames and also those objects touching them. Avoid roof tops and open grounds. It is safe to use mobile phones and cordless receivers of land telephones when one is away from dangerous objects and locations. Use of metal objects such as shovels, pickaxe and metal poles should be avoided. While being outside the house, one has to avoid being near trees and large metallic vehicles like trucks and earth movers. If trapped in an open location or are out on ground when lightning sets in, try to move quickly to a concrete building and be at the centre of the room. If there is a group, disperse immediately. While being in open ground, even umbrellas have to be discarded.
Riding bikes and leaning on cars can be dangerous; but being inside the car, bus, train and inside a concrete roof building is safe during lightning. Being in water is more serious and can be fatal. Considering the importance of lightning protection as one of the needful areas of awareness and training in India, LARC plans to organise a series of workshops across all districts in the state.
The ‘lightning season’ for the state has begun with the onset of North East Monsoon in the Malayalam month of Thulam. It will continue till the onset of Southwest monsoon in June. There normally is a break between mid-November and March.
Avoiding the Danger
All objects with cable connection such as land telephone, cable TV, wired internet modems and all devices connected to electric power should be disconnected during lightningg
public should avoid removing connections of equipments connected to the wall plug when lightning strikes
People should also keep away from water pipes and taps, including those in the kitchen, during lightning
As walls, doors and windows of the house will become live during lightning, one has to keep away from these frames and also those objects touching them
It is safe to use mobile phones and cordless receivers of land telephones when one is away from dangerous objects and locations
Use of metal objects such as shovels, pickaxe and metal poles should be avoided. While being outside the house, one has to avoid being near trees
Read:-http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Exercise-Caution-When-Lightning-Strikes/2015/11/13/article3125073.ece
