3 min learnNew DelhiJul 1, 2026 08:00 PM IST
It’d sound like one thing your grandmother would warn you about, however avoiding a bathe throughout a thunderstorm is definitely strong recommendation—and never simply an outdated superstition. Fashionable science backs it up, and docs say it’s higher to be secure than sorry.
One such professional, Dr Narander Singla, Lead Advisor in Inside Medication at CK Birla Hospital in Delhi, explains why showering throughout a thunderstorm might be harmful.
DISCLAIMER: This text is predicated on data from the general public area and/or the consultants we spoke to. At all times seek the advice of your well being practitioner earlier than beginning any routine.
Sure, lightning can journey via your pipes
When we think about lightning, we often think about it putting bushes or tall buildings. However what most individuals don’t realise is that lightning may discover its means into properties via steel pipes and plumbing programs.
“Showering throughout a thunderstorm is mostly not really useful as a result of danger of lightning-related accidents,” says Dr Singla. That’s as a result of plumbing, particularly if it’s fabricated from steel, can conduct electrical energy. Even plastic pipes, he explains, aren’t completely secure as a result of lightning can journey via the water inside them.
So, in the event you use water—whether or not within the bathe, washing your palms, or doing the dishes—you is perhaps exposing your self to a possible electrical shock.
A number of such instances have been reported globally, and organisations just like the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) additionally warn in opposition to utilizing plumbing throughout storms. (file)
What can occur if lightning strikes when you’re within the bathe?
Although it could sound far-fetched, it has occurred. And the results could be extreme.
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In keeping with Dr Singla, “If somebody is involved with water at that second, {the electrical} surge might trigger critical accidents equivalent to burns, nerve harm, and even cardiac arrest.” Meaning a lightning strike—even when it doesn’t hit your private home instantly—can nonetheless trigger hurt in the event you’re within the flawed place on the flawed time.
A number of such instances have been reported globally, and organisations just like the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) additionally warn in opposition to utilizing plumbing throughout storms.
So what do you have to do as a substitute?
The perfect factor you are able to do is straightforward: wait till the storm passes. Dr Singla advises, “To remain secure, it’s best to attend till the thunderstorm has fully handed earlier than utilizing showers, sinks, or any water-related home equipment.”
This doesn’t imply you need to keep away from water all day—pause for a short while till you’re certain the storm is gone. Most thunderstorms don’t final that lengthy, and holding off in your bathe may stop a critical damage.
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“Delaying these actions by simply a short while can considerably cut back the chance of damage,” Dr Singla provides. It’s a small inconvenience for a probably life-saving choice.
So the subsequent time thunder rolls and lightning flashes, skip the bathe—and perhaps get pleasure from a e book, a heat cup of tea, or chill out till the sky clears. It’s a straightforward approach to keep secure and sound.
DISCLAIMER: This text is predicated on data from the general public area and/or the consultants we spoke to. At all times seek the advice of your well being practitioner earlier than beginning any routine.
