15 struck by lightening in Luanshya

Fifteen people in Luanshya have been struck by lightening following unexpected heavy rains that have also left a trail of destruction .

ZANIS reports that the 15 include 12 pupils and three teachers at the school who have sustained injuries.

One of the injured, Evans Siakwale a science teacher at the school explained that the pupils sustained minor burns, cuts from the shattering window panes and skin irritations and were hospitalised at Roan Antelope General hospital and  have since been discharged.

Mr Siakwale told a ZANIS reporter who visited the school that the incident happened around 13:00 hours today when lightening struck the security lighting tower passing through the buried electricity cables, blowing off circuit breakers in the classroom and the home economics department.

He narrated that the lightening also blew off part of the class wall and roof which descended on him, filling the class with dust and smoke emanating from the burning cables and sockets in the classroom.

The teacher explained that panic gripped the class but that he was able to calm the pupils as he opened the door and asked them to walk out calmly.

He also said the home economics department caught fire which was quenched using extinguishers adding that two classrooms have had  their windows shattered, electricity wiring burnt down and the borehole has also been affected.

Mr Siakwale feared that the affected water supply posed a challenge on the school’s adequate preparation for the end of year examinations for grades twelve and nine.

And Luashya district Commissioner Harold Mbaulu described the incident as unfortunate.

Luanshya today experienced unexpected heavy rains which caught a lot of people unawares.