LUCKNOW: A farmer died after being struck by lightning while talking on his mobile phone in the field. The dead is Sripal, a native of Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh. He collapsed while talking on the phone after struck by lightning. His family brought the body home, but the police came and sent it for post-mortem. However, the authorities said that it is not clear whether Sripal was struck by lightning as he was talking on the mobile phone.

Is it safe to use a mobile phone at time of thunderstorms?
One subject that people constantly debate is whether or not to use a mobile phone during a thunderstorm. Many have different opinions about this. However, the majority are against the use of mobile phone during thunderstorms. Although there is no scientific knowledge about this, many people are of the opinion that one should not use the phone even while sitting inside the house during lightning. Let us see what is the scientific side of it and can we use smart phones during thunderstorms.

What is thunder, lightning?
Lightning occurs when rain clouds rub against each other. Lightning is an extremely powerful transmission of energy, that means a strong electric current. Thunder is the sound produced as part of this. As light can travel faster than sound, we first see lightning and then hear thunder. Millions of units of electricity are produced in each lightning strike. This lightning touches the earth and the electricity in it becomes neutral and disappears. The lightning that reaches the earth in this way causes great danger to living things and other objects. That is why it is said not to stand in open places during thunderstorms.

Reasons to oppose mobile phone use during thunderstorms
Many people believe that mobile phones can attract lightning. There is reason to think so. Signals reach the mobile phone in the form of waves. These waves travel through the atmosphere from several towers and reach the phone. It is believed that during a thunderstorm, the extremely powerful electricity in it reaches the phone through these waves. If electricity reaches the phone in this way, the phone may explode and endanger the person using it. This is why many people are against using phones during thunderstorms, but this is just an illusion.

What is the reality?
Mobile phones use radio waves, one of the electromagnetic waves, for signals. Electricity never passes through these waves, that means the lightning never reaches the mobile via these radio waves. In short, mobile phone will never attract lightning. A person can use a mobile phone to make a call or use the internet during a thunderstorm. However, telephone should not be used during thunderstorm. As it is connected to a wire, it is possible to get electricity through it.

Under what circumstances a phone causes danger at time of thunderstorm?
It was earlier said that it is not dangerous to use a mobile phone during a thunderstorm. However, there have been reports of accidents using phones during thunderstorms. Such situations are not related to the functionality of the phone.

Using the phone while charging during a thunderstorm may cause an accident. All electrical appliances should be disconnected in case of lightning. Otherwise, high lightning currents can flow through the wires and cause danger.

Using a phone outdoors or outside the house during a thunderstorm is another circumstance. It is not safe to stay out at this time. This is not caused by using the phone. It is dangerous if you stay in an open area during lightning without using your phone.