Severe Monsoon Weather Claims Lives Across India as Lightning Strikes
Tragic Impact of Lightning in Uttar Pradesh
A devastating series of heavy rains accompanied by intense lightning and thunderstorms, linked to the early monsoon season, has resulted in at least 25 fatalities across various Indian states, primarily due to lightning strikes. Reports indicate that in the past day, states including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Himachal Pradesh have been severely affected.
In Uttar Pradesh, authorities have urged residents to exercise caution as lightning has caused numerous deaths. In Ballia district, a 13-year-old girl tragically lost her life due to a lightning strike, while two others sustained injuries and are currently being treated at a local hospital.
In Bijnor, three individuals died—two from lightning strikes and a young girl who drowned in a flooded drain while bathing in rainwater. The girl, who went missing in Raghgan under the Kiratpur police jurisdiction, is still being searched for.
A family of four in Sonbarsa village, located in the Bara area of Yamunanagar, was also killed by lightning around midnight. Additionally, in Auraiya district, three people, including a 16-year-old, were killed by lightning, with two others hospitalized.
In Sambhal, six individuals were struck by lightning while harvesting crops in Maulanpur Danda, resulting in the death of one teenage girl and serious injuries to the others, who were subsequently referred to a hospital in Aligarh.
In light of these tragic events, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences and instructed district officials to ensure medical assistance for the injured and compensation for the bereaved families.
Gujarat Faces Sudden Downpour and Lightning Casualties
In Rajkot, Gujarat, heavy thunderstorms and continuous rain led to one fatality and the electrocution of 14 goats in the village of Veerdavajdi. The intense cloudburst around 6:30 PM caused widespread panic and significant waterlogging throughout the city. In Panchmahal district, lightning ignited a fire in a residential home in Dabhan Falia, although no casualties were reported.
Delhi's Severe Weather Causes Electrocutions and Infrastructure Damage
In Delhi, strong winds and rain caused a 100-foot mobile tower to collapse in the Safdarjung Enclave area, fortunately without any injuries. However, in RK Puram, a falling tree brought down a power line, resulting in the electrocution of two men, Ravinder and Bharat, aged 30 and 25, respectively. Both were from Bihar and worked at a local roadside eatery.
Maharashtra Experiences Heavy Rain and Lightning Fatalities
Maharashtra has also been severely impacted, with at least eight fatalities primarily due to lightning strikes. The regions of Ratnagiri, Raigad, and Sindhudurg have been particularly hard hit, prompting the issuance of a red alert. According to state disaster management reports, Ratnagiri recorded 88.1 millimeters of rain, the highest in the state over a 24-hour period.
Weather Alerts Issued for Himachal Pradesh
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms, lightning, and wind speeds ranging from 40 to 60 km/h across several districts in Himachal Pradesh, including Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur, effective from Sunday through Wednesday.