S Ganesh is a student at Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore. Modeling of biosystems, electrical therapies and electrobiology are his areas of interest.

The article highlights the mechanism of nerve injury due to lightning strike, a process in which tiny holes are created in the cells when the human body is struck by lightning. These holes (called electropores) collapse the ionic gradient across the cell and impair its functions, causing slow death of the cell.

Lightning strike is one of the most awe-inspiring of natural phenomena. It involves an electrical discharge between the atmosphere and the earth and can generate electrical currents and temperatures of very high magnitude. The potential difference between the earth and the atmosphere can reach over 100 million volts and the peak current 30,000 amperes. This can generate peak power of the order of 109 kilowatts reaching temperatures of the order of 50,000 degrees C. Any conducting object that is in the path of the discharge will also bear the brunt of the assault, including human beings.

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Address for Correspondence

S Ganesh
C/o Head of Department
Department of Electrical and
Electronics Engineering
Vellore Institute of technology
Vellore 632 014, India.
Email: ganesh.s@vit.ac.in
ganesh_89@rediffmail.com