Porni Banerjee | ১১ জুলাই ২০২৪ ১২ : ৪৩Porni Banerjee

At least 38 people, including three children have died due to lightning across multiple places in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.

Pratapgarh accounted for maximum deaths with 11 fatalities owing to lightning strikes, followed by seven in Sultanpur, six in Chandauli, five in Mainpuri, four in Prayagraj, one each in Auraiya, Deoria, Hathras, Varanasi and Siddharthnagar. Dozens of people have also suffered burn injuries from lightning.

Torrential rainfall accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning grappled multiple parts of the state between 4 pm and 6 pm on Wednesday when many victims got stuck by lightning while fishing or working in paddy fields. Some even went to pick mangoes and fetch water.

One woman, who took shelter under a tree, died instantly after being hit by lightning on Wednesday. In Varanasi, two brothers were struck by lightning, of whom one succumbed to burn injuries and other one is currently receiving medical attention.

Again, a 14-year-old boy died on spot after taking shelter under a mango tree in Auraiya. In addition, a 5-year-old girl in Deoria died after being struck by lightning while walking towards a farm field.

Uttar Pradesh has been hit by severe floods owing to continuous heavy rains for the past few days that 633 submerged villages and brought normal lives to a standstill. Meanwhile Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited various districts of the state and took stock of the critical condition.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that more widespread rainfall is expected to continue in the state and its adjoining states over the next five days.