PANJIM: Tragedy struck a group of tourists from Kerala, when one of their members died after being struck by lightning at the Miramar beach.
This is the first incident of the pre-monsoon rains, when a 35-year-old tourist identified as Akhil Vijayan from Ernakulam, Kerala, was declared brought dead at the GMCH.
According to information available from the Panjim police, the incident occurred at around 8.50 pm on Tuesday, May 14, when Vijayan along with his wife, two friends and their wives and kids had gone to the Miramar beach.
As it suddenly started raining, they rushed towards their car. But lightning struck in front of them, due to which Vijayan, his wife and a male friend fell on the beach. While Vijayan’s wife and his friend regained their consciousness, he remained unconscious on the beach.
An ambulance was called to the spot and Vijayan was shifted to the Goa Medical College Hospital (GMC), Bambolim, where he was declared dead on arrival.
A post-mortem examination conducted by GMC’s department of forensic science revealed that the cause of death was due to ‘electrocution and blast injuries consistent with lightning strike’.
Accordingly, the Panjim police have registered a case under Section 174 of CrPC in this regard. PSI Rajaram Bagkar is conducting investigations under the guidance of Panjim PI Vijaykumar Chodankar.
The body was handed over to the family members, who flew it to Kerala for last rites.
Vijayan and his friends had arrived in the State on May 13 and had checked into the Circuit House, Altinho. On the next day evening, they hired a rent-a-car and went to the Miramar beach where the tragedy struck.
Vijayan, who was in the taxi business, is survived by his wife and two minor daughters.
