Five die in lightning

Darbhanga, May 12 (UNI) Altogether five people, including two children, were killed when lightning struck here in the district last night.

District Magistrate Upendra Sharma today said that three people, including two minors, were killed when the roof of their house in Baruara village caved in, after a thunderstrom, while a 50-year-old woman died in a similar incident at the nearby Panta village of the same district.

He said that in another incident at Sinuwargopal village, another man was killed when he took shelter under a tree during a heavy downpour and was struck by lightning. He too died instantaneously.

Crops and many thatched houses in several villages were lost or burnt as a result of last night's strom, the DM said, adding that efforts were being made to reach succour to the affected at the earliest.

UNI