Out to watch immersions, 16-year-old boy killed by lightning strike on Juhu Beach

The incident was reported around 4.15 pm and civic officials said Shaikh’s body was recovered by lifeguards from the sea. Officials said it was raining heavily at the time. After the rains intensified, his friends took shelter under a makeshift tent. Shaikh, however, remained near the sea.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Santacruz division) Mahesh Mugutrao said, “Prima facie it appears he had come to see the Ganesh idol immersion at chowpatty and while standing near the water on the beach, he was struck by lightning and fell into the water.”

Anil Yadav, a family friend of the victim, who was present during the incident, said, “After we returned to the shore the rains picked up. We thought Shaikh too would come back. When he didn’t we panicked and contacted the police. After a while, the policemen started announcing that a boy’s body had been found in an unconscious state. We rushed to the spot and saw him lying still. A burn injury could be seen on his chest.”

The police said the incident was witnessed by a lifeguard who was standing around 300 m away from the boy. They have recorded his statement. Civic officials said the body was sent to Cooper Hospital, where he was declared dead. “The body was located and rescued by divers who were kept on standby at the beach. We initially thought he might have died by drowning. However, the burn injuries confirmed that he died due to lightning,” an official added.

Shaikh is survived by two siblings and his parents. His last rites took place on Friday. Mugutrao said the Santacruz police registered a case of accidental death report.

In a megapolis like Mumbai, tall objects like skyscrapers, towers and trees are more susceptible to lightning strikes, but open spaces and playgrounds are equally vulnerable.

“Deaths due to lightning strikes are a known phenomenon in the interiors of Maharashtra. However, in a megapolis like Mumbai, it’s a rare phenomenon because there is a dearth of open spaces and there are mostly tall buildings due to which the lightning cannot hit the ground,” Sushma Nair, scientist, IMD Mumbai, told The Indian Express on Friday.

Thursday’s incident was also the first time in six years that a life was lost due to lightning strike in Mumbai. Earlier in October 2017, a fisherman lost his life after he was struck by lightning while collecting fish from a pond in Mahalaxmi. In June 2021, multiple boats in the Khar jetty were damaged after lightning hit the shores. However, no injuries were reported in the incident.

If humans are struck by lightning, it can result in multisystem dysfunction, and survivors may experience prolonged disability following recovery from the initial strike. Electrical energy can also cause muscular spasm and necrosis, thrombosis, blood vessel tear, unconsciousness, and motor and sensory function abnormalities.

Weather experts say that every year lightning occurs in Mumbai during onset and retreat of monsoon.

Thursday’s death of teenager owing to lighting comes almost after a gap of 17 years. Official records show that last it was in the year 2006 when a 20 year old girl identified as Sakori More had died around 3.30 pm owing to lightning at Girgaon Chowpathy.

Earlier in October 2017, a fisherman lost his life after he got struck by lightning while collecting fish from a pond in Mahalaxmi. However, civic authorities have attributed the 2007 incident as the last official case. In June 2021, multiple boats in the Khar jetty got damaged after lightning hit the shores. However, no injuries were reported in this incident.