Lightning claims one life

In another incident, passersby rushed 20-year-old Amit Sharma of Panchkula to the Sector 16 General Hospital in a dazed and disoriented condition. Sharma was under sedation and unable to speak when Chandigarh Newsline saw him at the hospital this evening.

According to his mother, Sulekha Sharma, her son had been able to tell her that he was en route to Chandigarh at about 9:30 a.m. when heavy rainfall forced him to get down from his scooter and take shelter under a tree. This was near the causeway connecting the Industrial Area Phase I with Railway Station Road. He remembered only a terrific jolt and the next thing he knew he was in the hospital.

When he regained consciousness, he gave his telephone number and the family was informed. According to the hospital authorities, Amit was rushed to the Sector 16 General Hospital by two doctors who had witnessed the scene.

Doctors say that Amit bears no marks of burns or other physical injury but he is stated to be in a state of shock. quot;He has been kept under 12-hour observation. He is semi-conscious and has vomited nearly 30 times since morning,quot; his mother said.

Another similar case was reported to Sector 32 hospital. A man was claiming to have been hit by lightning was taken to the hospital in the morning. No further details of his condition could be ascertained.