Bantwal : An 18-old youth died in lightning strike when he was recharging his mobile phone in Bantwal taluk on Saturday night.

The police gave the name of the youth as Pradeep, son of Umesh Madiwala, a resident of Punjalkatte.

As there was no power in the area, Pradeep decided to recharge the mobile phone as soon as the power supply was restored around 9.30 p.m. As soon as he connected the mobile charger to the power supply point, a lightning struck the area. The lightning said to have flown through Pradeep’s body injuring him severely.

He breathed his last on the way to hospital. Pradeep was the youngest of three sons of Mr. Madiwala.