At least eight persons were killed and several others injured when they were struck by lightning during pre-monsoon thundershowers in three districts of West Bengal on Thursday.

Five persons, including two women, were killed in South 24 Parganas district on Thursday as showers accompanied by lightning lashed the district, official sources said.

A boy was killed and two others injured, one critically, as they were sleeping in their homes at Hakimpur in Joynagar area, the police said.

A middle-aged woman was killed and seven persons injured in lightning strikes at Gazipur and Ramsharanpur in Kulpi area of the district, the police said.

A girl was killed at Ramnagar and two others were killed at Raidighi and Gosaba areas of the district.

Two deaths by lightning were reported from Burdwan district late last night.

Sheikh Kajal was struck dead after being hit by thunderbolt at Ouanri village of the district.

Another person died at Jamalpur in the district.

Both the persons were hit by the lightning when they were sleeping in their homes.

In Nadia district, a woman was killed after being struck by lightning at Huniapota village in the wee hours on Thursday.