NEW DELHI – Lightning strikes amid heavy rain claimed nearly 70 people’s lives and injured many others in three Indian states, namely Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, in the past 24 hours, government officials said today.
The death toll due to heavy lightning in Uttar Pradesh mounted to 42 today, while seven people died in Madhya Pradesh and at least 20 died in Rajasthan yesterday, the Xinhua news agency reported.
As many as 42 persons died across Uttar Pradesh’s 17 districts, confirmed an official from the Uttar Pradesh Disaster Control Room in the state capital, Lucknow.
Expressing grief over the deaths, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Many people have lost their lives due to lightning in some areas of Rajasthan. This is very saddening. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased”.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also announced monetary compensation for the next of kin of those who died in the lightning strikes. – Bernama, July 12, 2021
