LIGHTNING KILLS 68 ACROSS INDIA, SELFIE-TAKERS AMONG DEAD

Mon 12 July 2021:

A total of 68 people died in separate lightning incidents across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan on Sunday.

Lightning strikes claimed 20 lives in Rajasthan on Sunday. Among the deceased, seven were children from Kota and Dholpur districts. Over 10 more people have been reported to suffer injuries.

Not only Rajasthan, but lightning also claimed seven lives in different districts of Madhya Pradesh on Sunday.

Of these, two people were from Sheopur district and two from Gwalior district. One person died in Shivpuri district along with one each in Anuppur and Betul districts, respectively.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those killed due to the lightning strikes in all the three states and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

In a major tragedy in Jaipur, 11 persons, mostly youths, were killed and eight others injured when lightning struck them on a hill near the Amber Fort, officials said. Some of them were taking selfies on a watch tower while the others were on the hill.

So far, a total of 41 people have been killed in lightning strikes across UP, according to preliminary information.

The Indian meteorological department has warned of more lightning in the next two days.

Lightning strikes are common during India’s monsoon season, which runs from June to September. More than 2,900 people were killed by lightning in the country in 2019, according to the most recent official figures available.

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