Blitz of lightning strikes kill 76 in 24 hours across Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
Lightning has killed at least 76 people in India during the early stages of the annual monsoon season, officials have said.
FollowJaipur/Lucknow/Bhopal: The human toll in the blitz of lightning strikes that bore down on parts of northern and central India over the weekend shot up to 76 on Monday, with MP reporting 12 casualties in 24 hours to add to UP’s updated count of 41 and Rajasthan’s 23.
While farm hands working in the fields accounted for most of the deaths in MP, the list of victims in Rajasthan included at least two people — a brother-sister duo from Amritsar — who were out sightseeing when they were fatally struck by bolts of lightning. In UP, the state government announced Rs 4 lakh as ex gratia to the families of each of the deceased. Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot released Rs 1.6 crore for distribution of relief to the kin of those killed and for treatment of the injured.
On Sunday, 11 visitors at the historic Amber Fort on the outskirts of Jaipur were killed when a lightning bolt struck at a watchtower on which they were taking a selfie. Another 20 visitors were injured in the incident, the local police said.
There were 41 deaths in Uttar Pradesh across 16 districts on Sunday evening in lightning strikes. “Thirty people have been injured as well. Ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh will be paid to the kin of the deceased,” Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner Ranvir Prasad told a news agency.
He added that 250 animals were also killed in the lightning strikes and 20 were injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed about these incidents and the loss of lives, a person aware of the developments said. “Deeply saddened by the demise of people. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased: PM @narendramodi,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a tweet.
Later, the PMO issued a statement in which it said that ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 to the injured was announced.
Scientists there said that lightning strikes have killed nearly 2,000 people every year in India since 2004, which is nearly twice the number of deaths recorded since the late 1960s.
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