New Delhi - At least 23 people, including eight children,
were killed when they were struck by lightning during rains across
three Indian states, officials and news reports said Monday.
The deaths were reported since Sunday from the eastern states of
Bihar and Orissa and the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. The rains,
accompanied by strong winds, uprooted trees and electrical poles and
damaged thatched huts in villages.
'We are getting reports that 18 people died overnight in various
parts of the state after being struck by bolts of lightning during
pre-monsoon showers,' Bihar Disaster Management Minister Devesh
Thakur said by phone from the state capital, Patna.
Most of the victims were either farmers or the homeless who were
outdoors, Thakur said. Five children playing in the rains were also
killed.
Five more deaths were reported from Bihar's neighbouring states of
Orissa and Uttar Pradesh, the PTI news agency reported.
Three children were killed when lightning struck at a village in
Orissa's Rourkela district. The children were watching television
when lightning struck their house, the report said.
India's monsoons have already arrived in the country's south and
some eastern states like Orissa.
Meterological experts said northern India, which was experiencing
a heat wave with most cities recording temperatures over 40 degrees,
was likely to get some relief as monsoon rains were likely to hit the
region by July 1.
India's monsoon season usually lasts from June to October.
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