Lightning kills 17 in MP, many hurt by lighting strike

Bhopal, Jun 25 (UNI) Seventeen people were killed and several others injured by lightning in Madhya Pradesh overnight.

Ten people, including three women and six children, died due to lightning, strike accompanied by rain, in Bundelkhand region.

In Chhatarpur district, the deceased in yesterday's incidents were identified by police as Dhadari village's Prakash Raikwar (8), Assu (12), Ramprakash (13), Ramkripal (15) -- all three from Dari village -- Rahul (9), Ramkali (36) -- both from Lalpur village -- and Darpibai (37) from Angaur village. Garhi Malehra village's Pramod (12) succumbed at the district hospital later.

Tulsi (50) from adjoining Tikamgarh district, and Rameshwar (35) from Panna district died at a hospital in Chhatarpur district's Naugaun.

Motorcycle-borne Vinod Sharma and Prema Bai were fatally struck by lightning during a downpour at Gwalior's Baori locality while a third person was hurt. Manoj Badhwani (16) was killed in Tatiyapura area while a child and an aged woman were injured in Nirwai village.

Tulsiram Soni, who was grazing animals near Kamlishah Baba's mausoleum in Khandwa district town, died in a similar manner. A cow was also killed.

Maharnia (45) was slain in Satna district's Umri village while nine labourers, working on a road under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, were injured at Kolhua village.

Meanwhile, there are reports of two more deaths and details are awaited.

UNI TEAM AC AK HT1315