Lightning claims five lives, toll reaches 76

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, June 15 (UNI) Lightning has claimed five more lives in Marathwada region of Maharashtra, taking the total number of casualties to 76 since May 31.

Yesterday, lightning claimed five lives including three in Aurangabad district and two in Beed district.

The deceased were identified as Sonu Pandharinath Shinde (13) (a resident of Gangapur tehsil), Vijay Waman Tupe (22) (a resident of Palgaon in Phulamri tehsil), and Haminabi Latifkhan Pathan (19) (a resident of Itkheda in Kannad tehsil) -- all in this district.

In Beed district, Ramdas Bandal (33) (a resident of Dadegaon in Ashtiu tehsil) and Dwarkabai Jija Aute (a resident of Wadgaon in Georai taluka) also died.

According to official sources, it is an unusual phenomenon that such a large number of deaths occurred due to lightning. Last year, about 250 people had died when they were hit by lightning in different parts of the region.

So far, eight lightning-related deaths have been reported from Aurangabad district, Nanded (15), Beed (12), Hingoli (8), Jalna (15), Osmanabad (5), Latur (8) and Parbhani (5).

An assistance of Rs 1 lakh was being extended to the next of the kin of the victims, while Rs 50,000 was given for victims below 18 years, sources added.

UNI