Student dies, another rushed to hospital

A form three student from Katakwa secondary school in Teso North Sub County is recuperating at Kocholia Sub County hospital after being struck by lightning Friday evening.
Dolphine Lupai is said to have been injured when she was studying with her cousin Costant Ekapel at their home in Rwatama village.
According to the Teso South MCA Grace Omasete, the duo was rushed to Angurai Dispensary where Ekapel succumbed, while Lupai was transferred to Kocholia Sub County hospital for specialized treatment.
The MCA who visited the injured Saturday said the patient was progressing well, but called for concerted efforts to have lightning arrestors installed in the area.
“My ward has had a history of lightning strikes dating back to 1970 when seven pupils of Katakwa primary school, died leaving more than 40 others with injuries,” he said.
Omasete cited another incident in December 2018 when three members of a family at Kakapel village succumbed to lightning.
“In 2016, scores of students from Aedemoru Primary school were injured after being struck by lightning,” she recounted.
The MCA further disclosed that the county government through Disaster Management has set aside -Sh5 million for installation of lighting arrestors in lightning prone areas like Samia and Teso North Sub Counties next financial year.
In September 2018 three siblings from Malaba Central ward were struck dead by lightning with another two, an elderly woman and a student being struck at Angurai North and Angurai East wards respectively in December, same year.
By Salome Alwanda