KARACHI: In order to understand the alarming rise in deaths due to lightning, the Sindh government on Tuesday ordered an inquiry and approached the federal ministry of science and technology and the NED University of Engineering and Technology to know the reasons behind this ‘natural disaster’.

On Monday, eight persons were killed in lightning incidents in different villages of Thar following heavy rain.

In separate letters to the federal ministry and the university, Sindh Energy Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah also offered logistic and other support to both the institutions to carry out the research and requested them to depute experts for this task.

He also sought suggestions from the experts to avoid such deaths in the future.

Extending condolence to the families of those who lost their lives due the lightning, the minister vowed that the Sindh government would provide all possible assistance to the affected families.

In light of the experts’ reports, the Sindh government would start an awareness campaign for protection against lightning and adopting precautionary measures, the minister added.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2024