107 people killed in lightning strikes in northern, eastern India

Lucknow : At least 107 people lost their lives in the lightning incidents in northern and eastern India, officials said, during the early stages of the annual monsoon season. 

According to a news report, 83 people in Bihar were killed in lightening incidents and another 24 were reported dead in Uttar Pradesh. Dozens more were injured, officials said.

Lightning strikes during the June-September annual monsoon are fairly common in India. But Bihar’s disaster management minister, Lakshmeshwar Rai, said this was one of the highest daily tolls from lightning the state had recorded in recent years.

He claimed that death toll may rise further as the government is still awaiting for the data on casualties from the local authorities.

Talking about Uttar Pradesh, most of the deaths have been reported in Deoria district close to the Nepal border, and the holy city of Prayagraj, authorities said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi late on Thursday tweeted his condolences to the victims’ families, adding that both state governments were carrying out urgent relief work.