Lightning kills more than 100 in northern India
More than 100 people in northern India have been killed by dozens of lightning strikes across two states in recent days, officials say.
The disaster management team in Bihar state said 83 were killed there, while another 20 were in hospital with injuries.
At least 20 more people are reported dead in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.
Lightning strikes are common in India during heavy monsoon rains.
Meanwhile the rain and thunderstorms have caused widespread damage to trees and property.
The authorities have warned residents to be vigilant and stay indoors, as meteorologists forecast more bad weather.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said relief efforts were under way and expressed condolences to the victims’ families.
Bihar’s Disaster Management Minister Lakshmeshwar Rai told AFP this was one of the highest tolls from lightning the state had recorded in recent years. More than half the deaths were in the state’s northern and eastern districts, he said.
In Uttar Pradesh most of the deaths occurred in Deoria district close to the Nepal border and the holy city of Prayagraj, authorities said.
More than 2,300 people were killed by lightning in India in 2018, according to the National Crime Records Bureau and at least 2,000 people have died in lightning strikes every year since 2005.
One of the reasons cited for the high number of deaths is the large number of people working outdoors in India compared to other parts of the world, which makes them more vulnerable.
In 2018 the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh recorded 36,749 lightning strikes in just 13 hours.
Source: BBC
You May Also Like
Sign up to The Daily Briefing
Stay informed with the most relevant stories shaping Ghana and the world, every morning and evening.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.
Emmanuel Kwame Amoh is an Online Editor with the current affairs team at Media General, operators of TV3 Ghana, editors.3news.com and more. Email: emmanuel.amoh@editors.3news.com