At least three persons were killed and five others injured in lightning strikes across three districts of Jharkhand on Saturday, officials confirmed. The incidents occurred in Chatra, Jamtara, and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts amid heavy rain and thunderstorms.
Chatra Incident
In Chatra district, a 25-year-old woman named Geeta Devi from Upar Bairiyo village died after being struck by lightning on Saturday evening. She was working at a culvert construction site on the under-construction bypass road when the incident took place during heavy rain.
Jamtara Incident
In Jamtara district, a 10-year-old boy lost his life and three members of his family sustained injuries at Bhithra village under Karmatanr block on Saturday afternoon. The deceased, Sohel Ansari, was walking with his father Mehruddin Mian and two brothers towards a field around 4 pm when strong winds and thunderstorms hit the area.
Seraikela-Kharsawan Incident
In Seraikela-Kharsawan district, 35-year-old Sanjay Devgam died and two family members were injured at Sandirdih village. The lightning struck near a straw hut where they had taken shelter from the rain. His nine-year-old daughter, Muskan Devgam, and 60-year-old father, Milu Devgam, sustained burn injuries, police said.
Rain and Waterlogging in Ranchi
After a warm day with the maximum temperature touching 34°C, Ranchi received rain late on Sunday. The rain, accompanied by gusty winds, brought relief from the heat but caused waterlogging in several areas, including Harmu and other low-lying stretches, affecting vehicular movement.
“The rain brought relief, but waterlogging on roads remains a concern. Vehicles moved slowly through accumulated water in several stretches,” said Reema Dash, a resident of Harmu.
Weather Forecast
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast partly cloudy skies with chances of light to moderate rain or thundershowers at isolated places across the state. Maximum temperatures may rise by 2-3°C over the next three days, IMD said.
