Bengaluru Lecturer Dies of Lightning Hit during Trekking near Subrahmanya
Subrahmanya: Harish (29), a lecturer by profession and resident of Doddakalsanka in Bengaluru, died after being hit by lightning while trekking in Pushpagiri reserve forest late Saturday evening. The forest lies between Sullia taluk of Dakshina Kannada and Somwarpet taluk of Kodagu.
He was among a group of 12 hobby trekkers – 6 males and 6 females – who had arrived in a private vehicle and camped in a lodge in Subrahmanya. On Saturday around 7 am, their group left for Pushpagiri taking the route to Kumaraparvata, about 8 kms from Subrahmanya.
They reached Kalluchappara and were clicking the eye-catching scenes of Karadibetta. Harish was suddenly hit by lightning. Ironically, he is said to have been hit when he tried to click the streaks of lightning.
Two women in the group also felt the shock. Harish collapsed to the ground and others tried to give him first aid in a shed belonging to the department of forests.
He was rolled in a mat and they tried to bring him down but because of rain he had to be taken back to the shed and kept here overnight. In the meantime, he had already succumbed to the shock effect. His family members were informed.
On receiving the news, local entrepreneur Yajnesh Acharya sent a team to help them. Early Sunday morning, the body was brought to the primary health centre in Subrahmanya, where the doctors confirmed his death.
After a post-mortem examination, the body was handed over to the family members including Harish’s brother who had arrived from Bengaluru on hearing the news.
The case has been handed over to the Somwarper police station, as the spot where the death had occurred is under their jurisdiction.
Pic Lokesh Balladka – Shantala