Woman, 35, dies after being struck by lightning in Ho
The woman, identified as Selina Kuma Kle, sold kenkey at Ho Bankoe Sorkode Station
A 35-year-old woman has died at Adzimakorfe (SDA Down), a suburb of Ho in the Volta Region, after she was allegedly struck by lightning.
The incident occurred near her house at about 6 p.m.
The woman, identified as Selina Kuma Kle, sold kenkey at Ho Bankoe Sorkode Station.
An eyewitness, Christopher Ametefe, told Class News he was staking lotto when the woman also arrived.
“I came to stake lotto, and she also came to stake her own. I had a conversation with her, and she said there’s too much gossiping in this area. I told her that gossiping is everywhere, so she should focus on her life,” he said.
“I staked my lotto and left. Upon reaching home, I realized the agent had made a mistake with the numbers, so I returned to the lotto agent to correct it. Less than five minutes after the rain started, we heard a loud thunderclap with lightning, which struck her down and ended her life,” he recounted.
Ametefe said he was left in shock.
A family member also disclosed that she received a phone call from her sister-in-law breaking the news to her.
“I had a call from my brother’s wife asking if I had heard about the death of my cousin. I told her I hadn’t heard anything. I quickly rushed to the scene to see for myself, and truly, she was dead,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ruddy Kle, alias Paka, an elder brother of the deceased, expressed the belief that, apart from walking in the path of lightning, an individual could be struck if they had an issue with someone and were cursed by that person.
“I know my sister was a quiet person who wouldn’t have issues with anyone, but what I know about a thunder strike is that if you are cursed with it or you walk in its path during the rain and it strikes, you will be a victim,” he said.
Given his sister’s peaceable nature, he believed something was amiss and stated that the issue would be investigated.
Meanwhile, traditional leaders from Ho Bankoe performed rituals to allow Selina’s body to be removed from the scene.
After the rites, the family said they reported the matter to the police for assistance in conveying the body, but their efforts yielded no positive results, resulting in them transporting the deceased to the Ho Teaching Hospital morgue themselves.
Residents remain in a state of fear and panic, as they said such an incident had never happened in their area before.