14 people were killed as lightning struck various parts of Madhya Pradesh on Friday.
A 6-year-old child died while three others were injured when lightning struck them at village Imaliya under Raneh police station in Damoh district. The children were playing under a Mango tree. When rains started, they took shelter under the tree on which lighting struck. Six-year-old Mahendra died on spot while nine-year-old Sapna, 14-year-old Sakshi and 6-year-old Narendra were injured. They were rushed to Damoh district hospital.
Five of a family die in Singrauli village
In Singrauli district, five people died in lightning strikes at various places. Five of a family died at village Misiragva in Singrauli's Chitrangi block. According to local sources, lightning struck on the family of one Rai Singh, who fell unconscious but survived. Family members who died included 45-year-old Rajkumari, 20-year-old Shivkumari, 10-year-old Phool Singh and 17-year-old Chirojiya. In Singrauli's Tamai village, 40-year-old Ramjanak Kewat died when lightning struck him. Another 48-year old Subash Bais was injured in Singrauli's Jharkatiya area when lightning struck him.
Six die in Satna, two in Shahdol
In Satna district, six people died when lightning struck them in different areas. A woman-Kavita Patel-died in Unchehra area of the district, while in Tala area, Tirath Sondiya died due to lightning. A person also died in Satna Civil Lines Mahadeva area. Under district's Bachwai Sitpura area, three people died after lightning struck them.
In Shahdol district, two people died in lightning strikes. Those who died included 50-year-old Dashrath Baiga from village Devgai and 45-year old Shyamlal Baiga from Lakhbariya.
Comment: Neighboring Bangladesh has seen a near-record number of deaths this year from lightning strikes, with 261 fatalities already - compared with last year's total of 265 deaths. The surge has even prompted Bangladesh's government to add lightning strikes to the country's list of official types of disasters.
The explanation provided by a physics and astronomy professor in California is indicative of mainstream science. Rather than 'global warming' it is the electrical nature of such phenomena that ought to be addressed. See also:
Electric universe: Lightning strength and frequency increasing