WEB DESK /NEW DELHI
More than 50 people were reportedly killed today across several states as rain, thunderstorms hit there throwing life out of gear. Deaths were reported from Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Delhi-NCR.
At least six people were killed and over 10 injured in different districts of West Bengal after lightning struck them amid heavy rain today, an official of the state disaster management department said.
Five deaths were reported from Howrah district, while one person died in Murshidabad district, he said.
According to Murshidabad district police, Shankar Mondal (50) was working at a field in Jalangi area of the district, when he was killed by a lightning strike.
In Howrah district’s Bordanga area, four children, aged between 8 and 12 years, were in a field collecting mangoes during a thunderstorm when lightning struck them, a police officer said.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her government would provide assistance to the families of the deceased, as well as those whose houses and crops have been damaged.
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“We do not have control over the nature. We will not be able to bring back those who have died, but our government will be beside these families and help them in every possible manner,” she told a news channel.
Nine people were struck dead by lightning and three injured in Srikakulam and Kadapa districts of Andhra Pradesh, official sources said.
While seven people were killed in Srikakulam district alone, two more were killed in Kadapa and three injured, they said.
Lightning struck at different places in Srikakulam since afternoon even as rain, coupled with gales, lashed the district.
Rain was also reported from Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts.
State deputy chief minister (Home) N China Rajappa, while condoling the deaths of people in lightning strikes, asked the respective district authorities to take necessary precautionary measures as per the warnings issued by the Disaster Management Department.
9 killed as thunderstorm hits Uttar Pradesh
At least 9 people were killed and 34 people were injured after a thunderstorm hit the state on Sunday, according to news reports
2 dead in Delhi, 1 in Ghaziabad; 70 flights diverted
At least two people were killed in Delhi and one in Ghaziabad after a squall and dust storm with a wind speed of up to 109 kmph barrelled through Delhi and neighbouring areas today.
The storm affected flight, rail and metro operations, uprooting trees, and leading to incidents of wall collapse.
The sky turned dark grey around 4:30 pm. Gusty winds and rain lashed the national capital, causing the temperature to drop around 10 notches to 25.2 degrees Celsius.