A Cautionary Tale Captured on Camera
On a stormy afternoon in March 2021, a tragic incident occurred in Gurugram, India, when lightning struck a tree under which four municipal workers had taken shelter from the rain. The dramatic event was captured by a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera and later circulated widely on social media. The footage shows a sudden and intense lightning strike illuminating the area, immediately followed by the four men collapsing to the ground.
Contrary to some viral claims that one man escaped completely unharmed, credible news reports confirm that all four individuals were affected—one of whom tragically succumbed to his injuries.
This incident has become a stark reminder of the dangers associated with seeking shelter under trees during thunderstorms. Here’s what really happened.
The Incident: What the Video Showed
The footage, verified to have been recorded in Sector 82 of Gurugram (formerly Gurgaon), shows four municipal gardeners standing under a tree during heavy rain. Within seconds, a bolt of lightning strikes the tree, and the men instantly collapse, with one falling flat on his back. The video ends before emergency services arrive, which led to widespread speculation online.
However, official reports and eyewitness accounts have clarified the sequence of events and their aftermath.
Who Were the Victims?
The four men were employees of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), assigned to the Vatika India Next township in Sector 82. According to a report by Hindustan Times, they had been working outdoors when sudden rain forced them to take cover beneath a tree—an action that would prove fatal.
The workers were identified as:
- Ram Prasad
- Shiv Dutt
- Lali
- Anil Kumar
Ram Prasad, who suffered the most severe injuries, was rushed to Medanta Hospital, where he was later declared dead. The remaining three were hospitalized at Artemis Hospital, receiving treatment for burns and other injuries caused by the lightning’s electric discharge.
Sources report that one of the survivors was placed on a ventilator due to the seriousness of his condition, while the others remained under observation.
Dispelling the Viral Myth: No One Walked Away Unharmed
Many online versions of the video were accompanied by misleading or sensational headlines, suggesting that one of the four men “miraculously escaped uninjured.” However, multiple credible news outlets, including Hindustan Times and The Quint, have verified that all four men were impacted by the lightning strike.
One fatality and three cases of injury were confirmed. None of the victims escaped unscathed, and claims of miraculous survival without injury are untrue.
This misinformation likely stemmed from the video’s abrupt ending, which does not show the aftermath or medical response.
How Lightning Injures
Lightning is a massive electrostatic discharge that can carry up to 1 billion volts of electricity. When it strikes a tree or another tall object, it can injure people nearby through several mechanisms:
- Direct strike – extremely rare but often fatal.
- Side splash – occurs when lightning jumps from a taller object (like a tree) to a person.
- Ground current – lightning’s energy spreads through the ground, affecting people standing nearby.
- Contact injury – occurs when someone is touching an object that is hit.
In this case, experts believe the victims were injured due to side splash and ground current, both common when people stand under or near trees during thunderstorms.
The Science Behind Tree Strikes
Trees attract lightning because they are tall and filled with moisture, making them ideal conductors. When lightning hits a tree, the sap inside turns into steam almost instantly due to the intense heat, which can cause the bark to explode or the tree to split. This can project shards and send electric currents outward, injuring people even several feet away.
This is precisely why standing under a tree is among the most dangerous things one can do during a thunderstorm.
Weather Authority Guidelines: How to Stay Safe
According to safety guidelines from the India Meteorological Department and U.S. National Weather Service, here are the steps you should follow when a thunderstorm is approaching:
- Do not seek shelter under trees. Instead, go indoors or find shelter in a car with a metal roof.
- Avoid open fields, water bodies, and high ground.
- Stay away from metal objects like fences, poles, or umbrellas.
- If caught in the open, crouch low with your feet together, hands on your knees, and head tucked in. Do not lie flat on the ground.
- Wait at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before resuming outdoor activities.
These measures can significantly reduce your risk of being struck by lightning.
Global Incidents: A Widespread Risk
The Gurugram tragedy is one of many such incidents globally:
- In Odisha, India (May 2025), lightning struck a tree where four individuals had taken shelter. Three were killed instantly.
- In Uttar Pradesh (February 2025), a similar incident left several college students injured while they stood beneath a tree during a storm.
- In Sydney, Australia (February 2024), four people were knocked unconscious when lightning hit a tree in the city’s Botanic Gardens. All survived but required hospitalization.
These recurring events underscore the urgent need for public awareness about lightning safety.
Final Thoughts: A Tragic Yet Teachable Moment
The lightning strike in Gurugram was not just a natural disaster—it was a preventable tragedy. Had these workers known the risks of sheltering under a tree, the outcome might have been different. Misinformation, such as the false claim that someone escaped without injury, distracts from the core lesson: Lightning kills, and smart precautions save lives.
Instead of spreading sensational stories, we must focus on sharing safety guidelines and understanding the science behind such events. With climate change potentially increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, awareness and preparation are more important than ever.