India - Lightning strikes and storms kill 94 people
Lightning strikes and storm-related incidents in northern and eastern India have killed 94 people, officials say
The deaths were reported from the four states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh since Tuesday at the start of the monsoon season in the region.
Fifty-three people, mostly farmers, homeless people and those outdoors, were killed after being struck by lightning in Bihar, disaster management official Aniruddh Kumar said.
Most of the deaths were reported from in and around state capital Patna, as well as districts like Aurangabad, Rohtas and Nalanda.
Twenty-two people sustained serious burn injuries.
Fifteen more were people died in lightning and house collapses during squalls in the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh while 10 people died in Jharkhand state.
Sixteen deaths were also reported in Madhya Pradesh state, officials said.
Storms and lightning claim numerous victims during India’s rainy season from June to September.