Lightning kills two students and injures two women near Mumbai

Mumbai city news: Sandip Ramesh Pokhla,15, who recently appeared for the SSC exam, was standing outside his house at Muddalwadi village when lightning struck him.

In separate incidents, two students were killed and two women were grievously injured after lightning struck them in Murbad district, 70km east of Mumbai, on Tuesday.

It was drizzling and windy when lightning struck. (HT)

Sandip Ramesh Pokhla,15, who recently appeared for the SSC exam, was standing outside his house at Muddalwadi village when lightning struck him. It killed him and critically injured his 40-year-old mother Mangi Bai and grandmother, who is in her 60s, said the police. They were in the kitchen at the time. Two oxen that were tied in the house were also killed.

“It was drizzling and windy. Local residents heard a loud thud and realised that Sandip’s house was struck by lightning. The women and the boy were taken to hospital where he was declared brought-dead. The women suffered burns on their legs and back,” said Pankaj Giri, additional inspector from Tokavde police station.

In the second incident, at Zadghar village, Hari Uttam Ugda,18, a degree college student, was struck by lightning when he was on his way to relieve himself.

He died of burn injuries in a civil hospital.

Zadghar and Muddalwadi villages are about eight kilometers apart.

“We are shocked by this incident. We have heard electronic devices attract lightning, but Sandip and Hira did not have any. We want someone to come ahead and help us financially,” said a relative of Sandip.

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