Hide cellphones when lightning strikes!

Mumbai, Jun 25: Next time, when you stand near a microwave tower or an iron-pillar supported billboard or even open your metal rod-fitted umbrella to seek shelter from thundershowers, you could be in for trouble, not from rains, but from being struck by lightning.

Believe it or not, but the increasing incidents of lightning over the last few years have led the scientists and experts raise concern over the phenomenal rise in the number of ''conducting equipment'' on earth, which according to them is the main cause of lightning cases occuring to-and-fro.

With an alarming 69 deaths due to lightning recorded in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra alone so far this year, scientists studying electric conduction and its effects are of the view that these cases could predominantly be because of the increasing metallic points available to lightning, to attract and strike.

Normally, the thunder lightining, with an intensity of several thousand volts, strikes a pointed metallic structure on earth. With the mushrooming of micorwave towers (courtesy the umpteen telecommunication companies) clogging up on the roofs of tall buildings, open spaces and even high-rising residential accommodations, the long queues of commercial billboards hanging on iron rods, electric poles and also the hot-and-happening cellphones which concentrate microwaves are providing mega-space for the thunder lightning to strike.

According to Bhabha Atomic Research Centre's former senior scientist Dr Mahesh Singh, the lightning produced as a result of large amount of ionisation in clouds is attracted to a metal point.

Normally, most buildings and commercial places put up lightning electric conductors with proper earthing, to nullify the effect of any lightning strike.

However, in the fast developing cluttered societies, with no open space and with practically every area having a radio or microwave tower, lightning does not get a proper point and space to be discharged.

This results in the people living in these crowded societies bearing the brunt of the thunderous clouds and, thus, a rise is being seen in cases of people being struck by lightning.

Dr Singh also pointed out another significant reason for the increase in lightning activity. He said, during a normal monsoon, hot air rises up, forms clouds and comes down in the form of rains.

But, in case of delayed rains, clouds keep accumulating and develop several electric poles which travel fast and develop into high voltage electricity, thus, resulting in lightning. The lightning then quickly gets attracted to a less resistant and high conducting material on earth, and if the material has proper earthing, there will be no damage to it.

The experts have also not ruled out the increasing possibility of metal gadgets like cellphones, iPods, vehicles (particularly cars) having metallic aerials, mini-radio handsets, iron rods and umbrellas with a metal rod providing additional points to the lightning to strike. Incidentally, a teenaged girl who died after being struck by lightning at Girgaun Chowpatty in South Mumbai early this week, was reportedly carrying eight cellphones.

Moreover, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has recently reported a study conducted by doctors that lightning could pose a threat to cellphone and iPod users during thunder and lightning.

Scientists also say that normally a lightning-struck person does not die of burns, but, it is the severe heat generated by it that leads to gaseous expansion in the body which damages lungs, heart and other organs in a quick span.

But, when the lightning heat temperature is as high as 700-800 degree celsius, the victim gets automatically charred to death.

Dr Pranali from Indian Burns Research hospital, Navi Mumbai, said lightning patients who suffer burns, mostly develop cardiac (heart) problems, which at times leads to their death.

However, doctors also say that people should not panic much as burns can be treated. The serious lightning injuries are more of cardiovascular and neurological in nature.

Immediate and effective cardio respiratory resuscitation on the spot and possible emergency medical treatment can save victims.

According to medical experts, some victims remain in coma despite intensive resuscitation and die of secondary causes including hemorrhages (blood-clotting), multiple lesions and expansion of fluids in brain and lungs.

Doctors have also claimed that even otherwise excessive use of cellphones is damaging to ears, but, they say more high-level studies are required to accurately corroborate, if cellphones are directly affected by lightning even as they say that there is nothing against keeping cellphones in bags or covered during thunder lightning.

UNI