Lightning kills 4, injures 2 in West Vidarbha

Akola/ Aurangabad, Sep 13 (UNI) Four persons, including a couple, were killed and two others were injured due to lightning here yesterday, police said.

The deceased couple were identified as Rameshwar Onkar Ombarkar (40) and Sunanda (35), residents of village Kherda Bhagai under Pinjar police station here. They were on their way home after the day's work in their field when the lightning killed them on the spot.

Also, 45-year-old farmer Ukanda Maroti Zombade was killed instantly whereas his wife Devkabai received severe burns when lightning struck them at village Mairaldoh under Malegaon taluka of adjoining Washim district.

In another incident, a father-son duo was hit by lightning at village Balkhed under Risod tauka of bordering washim district. The father, Ramesh Baliram Avtade (45 ), was killed in the incident while the son, Vithhal (19), received some injuries.

The injured were getting treatment, police said.

In Marathwada region, lightning has claimed eight lives in the past six days, official sources at the divisional commissionerate said.

In Maharashtra, as many as 157 people have died due to natural calamities -- 82 due to lightning, 28 in floods, 47 in rain-related incidents -- during the period of June 16 to September 13, official sources said.

The authorities have distributed financial assistance of Rs 1.22 crore to the relatives of the 137 victims so far, the sources added.

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