Lightning killed two sugarcane workers and critically injured three sheltering under a jackfruit tree in Jinja, Uganda; an official pledged all hospital costs.
Two people died and three others were critically injured after lightning struck a group of sugarcane workers in Jinja District, UgandaThe five victims had stepped away from their truck to shelter under a jackfruit tree when the lightning struck during a drizzleJinja District LC5 Chairman Moses Batwala pledged to cover the medical expenses of the three survivors receiving treatment at Kagoma HospitalPAY ATTENTION: Mark TUKO.co.ke as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Two sugarcane workers lost their lives, and three others were left critically injured after lightning struck a group sheltering beneath a jackfruit tree in Kamira Village, Namagera Town Council, Jinja District, Uganda.
Lightning kills two people in Uganda. Photo: David Turnley. Source: Getty ImagesThe five men had been offloading sugarcane at a weighbridge when a drizzle began. Seeking cover from the rain, they moved away from their truck and gathered under a nearby jackfruit tree, a decision that proved fatal when lightning hit the spot directly.
The two people who died were identified as Hassan Mubiru and Ashraf, both residents of Wansimba-Nakabalale Village in Butagaya Sub-county. The three survivors were rushed to Kagoma Hospital for urgent medical care.
Jinja District LC5 Chairman Moses Batwala expressed grief over the loss of life while calling on residents to change their behaviour during rainstorms.
Batwala confirmed he had personally directed the district ambulance driver to transport the injured to Kagoma Hospital and pledged to meet all medical costs for the three survivors.
He also said he would push district councillors to pass a resolution requiring all schools in the area to install lightning arresters, in a bid to prevent similar tragedies during the ongoing rainy season.
Lightning strikes under large trees are particularly dangerous because trees act as natural conductors, drawing current downward and through anything nearby on the ground. Safety experts consistently advise people to remain inside vehicles or solid structures and to avoid open fields, tall trees and bodies of water during thunderstorms.
