LIFHTNING
At least 17 people have been killed and several others injured in separate incidents of lightning strike in states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha, as monsoon wreaks havoc across the country.

In West Bengal, at least four people have lost their lives due to lightning strikes in two districts of the state. According to a senior official, two persons died in Purba Medinipur district's Nandigram, while two others, including a woman, were killed in Purba Bardhaman district when lightning struck them.

Additionally, seven people were injured in lightning strikes in Purba Bardhaman districts, the official said, adding that all the people were working in agricultural fields.

Meanwhile, heavy showers aggravated the flood situation in the southern parts of the state, with Saturday bringing fresh bout of rain.

"It has been raining consistently since Friday night. Though the showers had stopped for some time on Saturday morning, heavy rain resumed in the evening which deteriorated the situation in the flood-hit districts. We are monitoring the situation and ensuring that everyone is in safe shelters and there is enough food," the official said.

LIGHTNING KILLS 5 IN ODISHA

At least five persons, including three women, have been killed and five others injured in separate incidents of lightning strike in three districts of Odisha on Saturday, police said.

According to the police, all of them were struck with lightning while they were engaged in paddy cultivation work in Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak and Balasore districts.

The injured persons were rushed to the hospital and are currently undergoing treatment.

Apart from this, one person died after he was electrocuted in a paddy field at Kasabajaypur village in Balasore district. The deceased person had reportedly come in contact with a live electric wire attached to a lift irrigation point, a police officer said.

8 PEOPLE DIE IN LIGHTNING STRIKES IN JHARKHAND

According to officials, eight people, including three women and two girls, were killed in separate incidents of lightning strikes in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh and Palamu districts on Saturday.

The officials said that of the seven who lost their lives, six people were reportedly working in their agricultural fields, while a 13-year-old boy was returning home when lightning struck them.

Six people lost their lives in Hazaribagh district, while Palamu reported two deaths due to lightning strike.