Lightning conductors are being installed at 11 pagodas in Bagan ancient cultural zone, which is a popular tourist destination in Myanmar, and expected to finish in next two months, said U Kyaw Myo Win, director from the Department of Archaeology and National Museum under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture for Bagan branch.
Currently, the installation was completed at 4 pagodas and 7 pagodas are left to continue installing.
“11 Bagan pagodas have been installed lightning conductors, first 4 pagodas have been completed. It is expected to finish at all 11 pagodas in next couple of months, before monsoon season comes,” said U Kyaw Myo Win.
These pagodas were affected partly by lightning strike, that is why the department has set up lightning conductors, he said.
“These pagodas are not directly struck by lightning but they were affected partly. When we conducted restoration works after earthquake hit in 2016, we put iron materials in bells and turban bands to strengthen pagodas, so it causes current flow. There were two cases of lightning strike at Bupaya and Dhama Yarza Pagoda in 2023. Both pagodas were not directly struck but iron materials are put inside when they were restored, so the current flowed through them,” he said.
MT/ZS
