Man killed while trying to take photo of lightning on mobile

A 43-year-old Chennai-based man died in Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu as he tried to snap a photo of lightning in the sky on his mobile phone.

Police identified the deceased as H M Ramesh of Thuraippaakm near Chennai and said the incident took place when he was visiting a friend’s shrimp farm in Sunnampukkulam.

“Around 3.30 PM, Ramesh tried to take a photo of lightning with his smartphone camera. But, the lightning struck Ramesh and he collapsed. When his friends tried to pick him up, they found injuries in his face and the chest,” said police sources from the nearby Arambakkam station.

Arambakkam police sent the body to the Ponneri Government hospital for autopsy. Ramesh leaves behind a wife, Uma(38), and a daughter, Zia(13).

Following this incident, the Tiruvallur district police has warned people against trying to take photographs of lightning.