Lightning Strikes Switchboard in Kozhikode, Injuring 60‑Year‑Old Woman

On the evening of October 11, a violent thunderstorm rolled over the Kunnamangalam neighbourhood of Kozhikode. Around 5:30 p.m., the sky split open, rain lashing the streets and a bolt of lightning striking a house on Kalarikkandi Ozhil.

Inside that home, 60‑year‑old Cherupaikkattu Geetha was in the kitchen, reaching for a milk vessel, when the motor switchboard suddenly blew up. The explosion threw shattered metal parts straight at her face, leaving her with visible bruises and cuts.

She was rushed to the nearest hospital, where doctors confirmed facial injuries but said she was stable. Neighbours, still shaken, gathered to offer help and to assess the damage.

The strike didn’t stop at one house. At least four nearby dwellings suffered catastrophic electrical failures – wiring melted, water pumps and main switchboards caught fire, and fans and lights were reduced to scrap. In one residence a wall even collapsed, and a shallow crater was visible in the ground where the lightning hit.

KSEB crews arrived quickly, cutting off power to prevent further hazards. They warned residents that the full scale of appliance loss would only become clear once the supply is restored.

Local officials, including Gram Panchayat President C V Samjith and Development Standing Committee Chairman T K Hiteshkumar, visited the scene to offer assistance and to coordinate relief efforts.

While the community begins to pick up the pieces, the incident serves as a stark reminder of nature’s raw power and the importance of robust electrical safety measures during severe weather.