Selfie-takers among over 55 killed by lightning
LUCKNOW: At least 38 people were killed in eleven districts of Utar Pradesh, ater being struck by lightning, thunder and rain. According to reports, the deaths occured on Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, lightning created havoc on late Sunday evening when at least 22 people including 9 children died ater they were struck by lightning.
Meanwhile, eleven tourists lost their lives and another eight sustained injuries during a lightning strike near the Amer Fort.
Of these, 11 deaths were reported in Jaipur, when some tourists, who had gone out for an outing at Amer Fort on Sunday late evening to enjoy the pleasant weather, were struck by lightning.
The incident in Jaipur happened when tourists were out enjoy a pleasant evening - some were busy taking selfies while others chating when they were struck down. Around twenty-seven people were reported to have been on the watchtower and the fort wall when the incident happened.
Jaipur police Commissioner Anand Shrivastav confirmed the incident. “A total of 11 people have died as lightning struck them while 8 people have been injured,” Shrivastav said.
A few of them slipped from the hills and fell, deep down among bushes.
SDRF teams have been rescuing them since last night and are searching for victims, said the disaster relief force officials. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has announced a compensation of Rs 500,000 each for the families of those killed.
Police sources said that many tourists sustained injuries as they jumped off the watch tower in panic.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to lightning in parts of Rajasthan.
Rs 50,000 would be provided to the injured, Modi said in his tweet.
Among the victims of Utar Pradesh lightning incident fourteen people died in Prayagraj, five in Kanpur Dehat, three each in Firozabad and Kaushambhi and two each in Unnao and Chitrakoot ater lightning struck them.
Taking cognizance of the incidents, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his grief and directed the district administrations to provide adequate compensation to the tragedy struck families.
According to the government spokesman, deaths were also reported from Kanpur, Pratapgarh, Agra, Varanasi and Rae Bareli.
In Kaushambhi, the deceased have been identified as Rukma,12, Moorat Dhwaj, 50, Ramchandra, 32, and Mayank Singh,15.