Lightning claims 10 lives in N Maharashtra

Unseasonal rains accompanied by thunder and lightning claim 10 lives and damage crops in North Maharashtra districts, says the police.

Unseasonal rains accompanied by thunder and lightning claimed 10 lives and damaged crops in North Maharashtra districts, police said in Jalgaon on Friday.

Seven people, including four women, were killed in Bhusawal, Chopda, Chalisgaon, Amalner and Botharde tehsils in Jalgaon district on Thursday evening when lightning struck them.

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The deceased were identified as - Usha Zurkunde (35), Sunita Anil Mahajan (34), Vijay Patil (22), Umesh Jadhav (19), Kalabai Badgujar (65), Ananda Patil (62) and Kavita Patil (17), police said.

Besides, two farm labourers - Surekha Shamrao Koli (17) and Sanjay Ranrao Marathe (29) died and five sustained injuries in a cotton field in Dhule district and one died in Nandurbar in lightning incidents, reports said.

Rains also lashed several places of Nasik district on Thursday night, damaging grape, onion, corn and soyabean crops.

Paddy crop in Igatpuri and Trimbakeshwar in the district also suffered damage due to untimely downpour, official sources said.