Roofer Struck by Lightning and Falls from Roof After Zinc Sheet Contacts Power Line

A shocking incident occurred when a roofer was electrocuted and fell while repairing the roof of a Buddha image shelter near high-voltage power lines. On May 14, 2025, Muang Lampang Police received a report of a person falling from a roof and sustaining injuries at an open-air shelter in Ban Don Muan, Phichai Subdistrict, Muang District, Lampang Province. Rescue personnel from Khai Surasak Montri Hospital and local police rushed to the scene to investigate and provide assistance. Near the shelter, rescue workers found one injured male victim identified as Mr. Lop, age 40, a resident of Ban Don Muan in Phichai Subdistrict, Muang District, Lampang Province, lying unconscious on the ground with multiple wounds. Officials administered first aid before transferring him to the hospital for further treatment. According to the investigation, prior to the incident, Mr. Lop had carried zinc sheeting up to repair the roof of the Buddha image shelter, located over 3 meters high in what was formerly a temple site near high-voltage electrical poles. It is believed that as he carried the zinc sheeting upward, it may have made contact with the high-voltage power line, causing an electrical short circuit that electrocuted him and caused him to fall from the roof with resulting injuries. Community leaders stated that the area was the location of an old temple with a Buddha image that had been frequently flooded, leading to the temple's relocation to a new site while leaving the Buddha image behind. Residents had constructed a thatched roof to protect it from rain, but when the roof developed leaks, they requested permission from the electric utility company to repair it. However, due to its proximity to the high-voltage power lines, the accident occurred. Fortunately, no fatalities resulted from the incident.