Lightning kills 74 across India
NEW DELHI/JAIPUR/LUCKNOW/ BHOPAL: At least 74 people have been killed in lightning strikes in the past 24 hours in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, according to data provided by the states governments on Monday, in what is one of the worst lightning disaster to hit the region in several years.
Of them, 11 were killed on Sunday when lightning struck them at Amer Fort, the 12th century historic structure on the outskirts of Jaipur in Rajasthan. According to an eye witness, lightening struck the fort twice between 6.30pm and 7pm. Some people were taking selfies at a watch tower inside the fort while others were taking shelter from the rain when they were hit by lightening; 11 people, including a brother and sister two siblings from Punjab, died on the spot.
Another 20 were injured at the spot, local police said.
“It was already raining when the people were there. They huddled in the towers as the rain intensified,” Saurabh Tiwari, a senior officer of the Jaipur Police, said, adding that around 30 people were on the watch tower at the time.
Elsewhere in the state, four children died in Kota and three in Dholpur district due to lightning strikes.
The children had taken their goats for grazing in the forest in Garda village in Kanwas area and took shelter under a tree when it began raining, before lightning hit the spot, superintendent of police, Kota rural, Sharad Chowdhary said.
Four others, including three children, were injured and were given medical care, he said.
In Kudina village of Dholpur district, too, three children were killed by lightning when they were outside with their cattle.
Similar deaths were reported from Jhalawar, Baran, Tonk and Jaipur, and altogether at least 22 people died across the state.
Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh to the victims’ families.
The maximum deaths were reported from Uttar Pradesh where 41 people died due to lightning strikes across 16 districts on Sunday night.
“As per the available informa