At least 38 people were killed in separate incidents across Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday due to lightning strikes. The deaths have been reported as the state grapples with flooding, which brought normal life to a standstill.
With 11 deaths, Pratapgarh accounted for the most fatalities due to lighting strikes, followed by seven in Sultanpur, six in Chandauli, five in Mainpuri, four in Prayagraj, one each in Auraiya, Deoria, Hathras, Varanasi and Siddharthnagar. Dozens of people in these districts have suffered burn injuries as well.
In Pratapgarh, the deaths happened in five different regions and their bodies were collected and sent for postmortem.
In eastern Uttar Pradesh's Chandauli, meanwhile, several people were injured too and are currently undergoing treatment in the district hospital. The district received heavy rainfall between 4 pm and 6 pm on Wednesday along with lightning. Most of the victims, which include two cousins aged 13 and 15, were struck by lightning while working on the farm or fishing.
Among the seven deaths in Sultanpur, three were children. The victims were struck by lightning when they were planting paddies or went to pick mangoes or fetch water. One woman, who was sheltering under a tree while it was raining heavily on Wednesday, died on the spot after being struck by lightning.
A 14-year-old boy died in Auraiya while sheltering under a mango tree as it was raining. In Deoria, a 5-year-old girl died after being struck by lightning while walking towards the farm field where her family members were already present. In Varanasi, two brothers were struck by lightning, while one succumbed to burn injuries, the other one is currently undergoing treatment.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has, however, forecast more widespread rainfall to continue in Uttar Pradesh and its adjoining states and Union territories over the next five days.
