Clairwood family shaken by freak storm

A CLAIRWOOD family was left shaken after a lightning strike hit their home as they were ushering in the new year.

Home owner, Ravin Brijlal now lives to tell the unique tale after he and his family survived the ordeal on Thursday, 31 December.

“I was with my wife and my two daughters inside the lounge when what sounded like a plane crashing into the roof a struck. Thereafter everything blacked out which was followed by white smoke. We were in shock and panic with everyone screaming. I tried to get everyone to calm down. We reached for cellphone torches to see what had actually happened. While in the lounge, the light switch on the wall flung out of the wall socket and hit my wife’s face, just barely missing her eye. The lounge light that was hit by the impact of the strike also burst.

“The worst part however, was the damage we suffered to the roof. About 30 roof tiles broke off exposing a big whole from the inside of the house. That night was even raining and I had to get my daughter to help me cover the hole with plastic to block off as much water getting into the house as possible. From midnight until 5am I was up on the roof. I don’t know where the strength came from but I just knew I needed to make sure we didn’t suffer flooding in addition to our ordeal. My TV and the geyser was blown, my telephone box exploded and caught on fire. “I thank God that we are all safe, because that’s what matters most. You can replace damaged good but you cannot replace the lives of your loved ones. This was the first lightning strike that I experienced and I see it as God came to visit us on New Year’s Eve,” said Ravin who is also the PRO for the Clairwood Ratepayers Association.

Clairwood PR councillor Sharmaine Sewshanker advised residents to exercise caution on the dangerous effects of global warming and extreme changes in weather patterns. “Residents should take all necessary precautions to avoid damage to their property and injury to themselves. It is really saddens me that Ravin had to have such an unfortunate experience. We just thank God that his family is safe. I will follow up and see that he gets support from eThekwini Municipality’s disaster management and emergency control unit.

“If residents are affected by severe storm damage, flooding or the like, they must make contact with their local councillor or ward committee members who will get in contact with disaster management for assistance,” said Sewshanker.

The family appeals for assistance in roof tiles donations as they try to find their feet following the natural disaster. For more information contact Ravin on 083-252-8065.  

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