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Lightning strikes in West Bengal kill 14 people, mostly farmers
Lightning strikes claimed lives of four people in Purba Bardhaman district, and two each in Murshidabad and North 24 Parganas, an official said.
At least 14 people were killed in three districts of West Bengal, which witnessed moderate rainfall on Thursday, an official said.
Lightning strikes claimed lives of four people in Purba Bardhaman district, and two each in Murshidabad and North 24 Parganas, a disaster management department official said.
West Bengal police officials said six more deaths were reported from Paschim Midnapore and Howrah Rural districts. "Three deaths each were reported from Paschim Midnapore and Howrah rural," an official said.
According to him, the victims were mostly farmers who were killed after being struck by lightning while working in agricultural fields.
Thunderstorms with lightning occurred in several south Bengal districts, including, Kolkata, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, Purba Bardhaman and Murshidabad, he said.
"Gusty wind was reported at Alipore at 1645 hrs and the duration was less than one minute with the highest wind gust of 79 kmph. This is not a squall," said an official at Regional Meteorological Centre here.
