This Paithalmala incident from Kannur is honestly very heartbreaking,because one normal hill station visit turned fatal within minutes . A 31-year-old tourist,Anju Mathew,died after being struck by lightning while she was there with her husband on June 21,2026 .
And what makes it even more scary is timing . Incident reportedly happened around 6 p.m . when heavy rain and intense thunderstorms were going on,and group seems to have been caught by surprise.
Anju's husband,Sonu,also suffered serious injuries in same lightning strike . Local residents and security personnel helped shift him quickly to a private hospital in Karuvanchal for treatment.
A forest watcher who was present at location also reported minor injuries . So this was not some small weather scare ah,it became life-threatening within seconds.
Few things standing out clearly here:
- Access to Paithalmala has been suspended indefinitely after incident .
- Anju Mathew,aged 31,died after lightning strike on June 21, 2026 .
- Sonu suffered serious injuries and was taken to a private hospital in Karuvanchal.
Police have completed inquest and Anju's body was shifted to mortuary at Kannur Government Medical College Hospital . Authorities are now checking situation before allowing tourists back into area .
And tbh,this is where people also need to think seriously about weather warnings . Hill stations like Paithalmala are beautiful,no doubt,but during heavy rain and thunderstorms,nature can become unpredictable very fast .
Paithalmala is known for its views and many locals and tourists visit that place regularly . But after this tragedy,officials are asking visitors to stay cautious and keep safety first during outdoor trips .
Still,one question stays in mind… when weather changes so suddenly in such places,how prepared are tourists and authorities really supposed to be…
