News / Local
Upper six pupils survive lightning strike
26 Jan 2012 at 06:17hrs | Views
ABOUT 11 Upper Six pupils from Hlangabeza High School in Nkayi District yesterday survived a lightning strike, with three of them sustaining severe burns. The three, who include the head boy Xolani Tshabalala, were rushed to Nkayi District Hospital where they are reported to be in a stable condition.
The incident, which has left pupils and teachers in a state of shock, occurred at around 12 noon.
In an interview on condition of anonymity, a parent from the surrounding community said he heard a heavy sound of thunder during the heavy rains that pounded Nkayi Growth Point and surrounding areas.
Hlangabeza High School is situated about a kilometre from the growth point.
"There were heavy rains at that time. Suddenly we heard a heavy sound of thunder but we did not know what was happening. We later on heard that pupils had been struck by lightning. All the people here are shocked and we do not know what that means," said the parent.
The school head, Mr Silas Ndlovu, confirmed the incident.
"Yes, the pupils were struck by lightning. It was the whole class of Upper Six who are doing Agricultural Science. They were standing on the veranda while it was raining.
"Luckily the bolt of lightning did not strike them directly but struck the ground just ahead of them," said Mr Ndlovu.
"As the bolt of lightning struck, they all fell down and three of them including the head boy sustained burns and they were quickly rushed to the hospital. No one died and they are recovering well."
Mr Ndlovu expressed shock over the incident and said the school considered the incident to be natural.
"All of us are shocked by this incident. People can interpret it differently but as a school, we take it from a scientific point of view. I think the problem is that the area they were standing on was negatively charged while the affected pupils were putting on push-ins, which allowed them to be in touch with the ground hence they were affected," he said.
The incident, which has left pupils and teachers in a state of shock, occurred at around 12 noon.
In an interview on condition of anonymity, a parent from the surrounding community said he heard a heavy sound of thunder during the heavy rains that pounded Nkayi Growth Point and surrounding areas.
Hlangabeza High School is situated about a kilometre from the growth point.
"There were heavy rains at that time. Suddenly we heard a heavy sound of thunder but we did not know what was happening. We later on heard that pupils had been struck by lightning. All the people here are shocked and we do not know what that means," said the parent.
The school head, Mr Silas Ndlovu, confirmed the incident.
"Yes, the pupils were struck by lightning. It was the whole class of Upper Six who are doing Agricultural Science. They were standing on the veranda while it was raining.
"Luckily the bolt of lightning did not strike them directly but struck the ground just ahead of them," said Mr Ndlovu.
"As the bolt of lightning struck, they all fell down and three of them including the head boy sustained burns and they were quickly rushed to the hospital. No one died and they are recovering well."
Mr Ndlovu expressed shock over the incident and said the school considered the incident to be natural.
"All of us are shocked by this incident. People can interpret it differently but as a school, we take it from a scientific point of view. I think the problem is that the area they were standing on was negatively charged while the affected pupils were putting on push-ins, which allowed them to be in touch with the ground hence they were affected," he said.
Source - TC
