LIGHTENING STROKE RESULTING INTO LICHTENBERGS FLOWER: A RARE CASE REPORT

Background:Occupational hazards are consequences and risks associated with particular occupation. Farmers working in the fields are at various risks like snake bite, injuries sustained from agricultural equipment, inhalation of pesticides, electrocution and lightening injuries. In a thunderstorm and rainy season,person working in an open area and that too in a farm, is at utmost risk of getting electrocuted from lightening injury due to less insulation to the electric current in the wet surrounding. Metallic heavy agricultural machineries, irrigated fields and lack of awareness are other factors that makes one prone to get stroked by a lightening arc. Case History:Atwenty-three-year-old male farmer was found dead while working in the fields of rice in the afternoon. As per the family he went for cultivating seedlings of rice plants in the fields full of water. He was taken to the emergency department of our facility where he was declared brought dead after initial examination and resuscitation. The body was sent for medicolegal examination in the Mortuary. On external examination, mud was present over the body and clothes at places, the lower and underwear were torn at places.Characteristic arborescent patterned burns to lighteningi.e., Filigree burn were found over the left lateral aspect of lower abdomen and anterior aspect of upper two third of left thigh. Conclusion:Meticulous examination and sceptical eye of autopsy surgeon, meteorological department report, reconstruction of events and findings over the body can converge upto the cause and manner of death.