India: As many as 56 people were killed by lightning strikes in a single day – including 38 in Uttar Pradesh and 18 in Rajasthan, as many places in north India received rainfall on Sunday. A majority of the deaths – 14 – were reported in rural areas in Prayagraj district. Most of them were children and women.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced a compensation of ₹ 5 lakh each to the family of those killed. The state government announced that financial help will also be provided to those who lost their livestock in rain-related incidents.
While Prayagraj reported 14 deaths, five deaths each were reported in Kanpur and Fatehpur districts. In Kaushambi, four people died due to lightning strike while Firozabad, Unnao and Rae Bareli reported two deaths each. Hardoi and Jhansi also reported one death each.
On Saturday, scattered rainfall was reported in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan – where 20 people lost their lives in lightning strike.
Light to moderate rain and thundershowers were reported at isolated places in Uttar Pradesh, while other districts, including Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Rae Bareli, Sant Kabir Nagar, Allahabad, Balrampur, Bahraich and Jhansi received rainfall.
Fatehgarh was the hottest place in Uttar Pradesh where mercury soared to 42.5 degrees Celsius.
“The conditions continue to remain favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon over Delhi, remaining parts of west Uttar Pradesh, some more parts of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan during the next 24 hours,” the IMD said on Sunday.
