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Chhattisgarh lightning strike: Three, including 2 children, killed in Surguja
The children had gathered under a mango tree in neighbouring Dumki village to collect fallen mangoes when it started raining.
Three people, including two children, were killed and a 12-year-old girl was injured after lightning struck a tree under which they had taken shelter from heavy rain in Chhattisgarh’s Surguja district, police said on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on Monday evening in Dumki village under Dhourpur police station limits when strong winds and heavy rain lashed parts of the district, an official said.
The deceased were identified as Ram Sai (36), who was grazing cattle, Sagar (5) and Rani (9). Sagar’s sister, Shraddha (12), sustained burn injuries and was admitted to the Community Health Centre in Dhourpur. Doctors said she is out of danger.
According to preliminary information, the three children from Dhourpur had gathered under a mango tree in neighbouring Dumki village to collect fallen mangoes when it started raining. Ram Sai, who was grazing cattle nearby, also took shelter under the same tree.
Moments later, lightning struck the tree, killing Ram Sai, Sagar and Rani on the spot, the official said. Rani, a resident of Dabra village in neighbouring Balrampur district, had come to Dhourpur to visit relatives.
The bodies were sent for post-mortem examination, police said.
