Inferior mobile phones, a potential danger
by Ananda KANNANGARA
Colombo University Senior Lecturer, Dr. Chandana Jayaratne warned the
public to desist from using inferior mobile phones during thundershowers
and lightning since there is a possibility of the phone battery
exploding and causing serious injuries to the user as well as those
nearby.
Mobile phone users should switch off their phones even during heavy
showers and lightning as it could cause injuries to the user. Dr.
Jayaratne told the Sunday Observer that not only people but also animals
such as cattle, goats and elephants should be protected during
lightning.
He said that cattle and elephants should be kept in safe places
instead of tying them to trees as lightning strikes the top and goes to
the root of the tree.
Children should refrain from playing in open areas during
thundershowers and farmers in paddy fields, he said.
Dr. Jayaratne said 85 percent of the deaths due to lightning had
occurred, in open places and most of the victims had been farmers
engaged in agricultural work.
According to the Meteorological Department, lightning becomes active
from March-May and October-November. Kalutara and Ratnapura districts
were the worst affected areas. Two young boys of Anguruwatota in
Kalutara and Akmeemana in Galle were struck by lightning in the evening
last week. One boy died, while the other sustained minor injuries.
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