A school building in Bistupur without a lightning conductor. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, June 14: Residents of the steel city should be thankful that lightning did not strike any building here, unlike the Green Garden School at Ranchi where five students were killed.

If it had struck buildings in Jamshedpur, where more than 90 per cent constructions do not have lightning conductors, the story would not have been different.

Few residential flats, educational institutions or commercial complexes across the city have lightning conductors, leaving residents at the mercy of nature.

A random survey of more than 50 apartments by The Telegraph today revealed that not a single residen- tial building in the South Park area of Bistupur, Aam Bagan in Sakchi, Government colonies in Adityapur — and most private apartments in Sonari and Kadma — has lightning conductors.

The exception was Sahara Apartment in Sonari.

A large number of schools in the city, including Sri Krishan Public School, Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Sardar Madhav High Singh School and Jusco School at Bistupur also lack lightning conductors.

The same is the case with commercial complexes.

Some exceptions, how- ever, include the Shanti Niketan and Voltas House in Bistupur.

Surprisingly, most residents are not really bothered.

“If someone is destined to die, he will do so. Why should I be bothered about all these things and get worried unnecessarily?” said Raja Ram Prasad, an employee in a private bank situated in a building on Bistupur main road.

Anita Singh, a resident of South Park colony, agreed with him, preferring to leave things to fate.

East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Nitin Madan Kulkarni said it is not mandatory to install lightning conductors.

People usually install the system on their own.

“However, keeping in mind yesterday’s tragedy, I am planning to issue instructions to educational institutions, commercial complexes and other public buildings to install lightning conductors in the interest of the large number of people who stay at these places for long hours every day,” said the deputy commissioner.