Rains and lightning claims six lives in Western Vidharbha

Akola Mar 10 (UNI) Hailstorms and heavy rains accompanied by lightning and thunder have killed six people and injured six others in Akola, Washim and Buldhana districts in the Western Vidarbha region of the state.

A two-year-old boy was buried alive when the wall of his house collapsed due to incessant rains at Waghjali village in Barshitakli tehsil of Akola district, police said today.

Ajay Shekhar Wakode and Praveen Samadhan Nikam, both aged 12 years were killed on the spot while another boy was injured when lightning struck them on their way to school at Harankhed village in Malkapur tehsil of Buldana district.

In another incident, twentyone year old Pankaj Bhagwan Rajput, a B A second year student, was killed instantly when lightning struck him while he was taking his cattle for grazing, the police said.

A brother and sister duo was killed when lightning struck their hut and injured their parents along with another sister. The incident occured at Mohoja Ingole Village in Risod tehsil, bordering Washim district. The deceased have been identified as Tanaji Ramrao Thoke (22) and his sister Archana Ramrao Thoke (19) while Ramrao (50) Jijabai (45) and Vanita (15) sustained injuries.

Several villages in rural parts of Warhad including Akola city experienced heavy rainfall followed by hailstorms at some places damaging the standing crops of wheat, green gram, jardu among others.

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