At least six people were killed and four injured in Uttar Pradesh after lightning struck their villages, police said on Friday. In two separate incidents, at least five people died after being struck by lightning in four villages of Sitapur district. In Shrawasti, one person died and four were critically burnt.

According to police officials lightning struck late Thursday in Talgaon, Manpur, Ataria and Sakran villages where five people, including two women and a two-year-old child were killed.

An enquiry has been ordered and ex-gratia payment of Rs. 1.5 lakh for the deceased and 50,000 each for the injured was announced, additional district magistrate (ADM) Sitapur, Rajesh Pandey said.

Weather has changed suddenly across central Uttar Pradesh in the last 24 hours, with rains accompanied by lightning reported from many parts of the state.