Lightning-related incidents claim 21 lives, Asom faces floods

New Delhi, June 20 (UNI) Twenty one people were killed and many injured in lightning-related incidents in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa in the past 24 hours while the flood situation in Asom continued to be alarming.

In Chhattisgarh, nine people, including six children, were killed when lightning struck them in three places in tribal Jashpur district this evening.

Police said one death each was reported from Bagalpur village and Kasabel locality.

In Maharashtra, three women were killed after being struck by lightning while they were working in a field in village Dighi in Nandura tehsil of the district this afternoon, police said.

A woman and a child were killed and two injured in another lightning incident in a field at village Shelgaon-Atol in Chikhli tehsil of the district in the afternoon, they added.

Rain, accompanied by strong winds, also damaged several houses, cattle sheds and standing crops in parts of Nandura tehsil in Maharashtra.

In Madhya Pradesh, a UNI report from Indore quoted police as saying that one Anand was electrocuted after coming in contact with a pole near the Chandrabhaga bridge during a shower last evening. One Mahendra Gehlot, who was standing along with Anand, was swept away in a nullah and his body was found this morning, it said.

Two persons, identified as Ikraar and Pushpendra, drowned in a pit near Banjari in the Military headquarters of War area in MP, the police said.

Yesterday, Orissa also saw deaths of three labourers and injuries to four when lightning struck them at Dania near Kokarama village under Hatibari Police Station of Sundergarh police district.

Police said the incident took place when the labourers, working on the construction of a bridge, had taken shelter in a house following heavy rains.

Of the eight labourers, three died on the spot and four were injured and later shifted to a hospital.

After a red alert yesterday, the BSF has been pressed into service in Asom for rescue operations as the overall flood situation in the Barak Valley continued to be alarming.

Heavy showers throughout the state for the past few days have affected several lakhs of people in six districts.

Official sources said one BSF party had been engaged for rescue operations in Karimganj district where all rivers were flowing above the danger level. The flood water had entered Karimganj town, overflowing the E and D Dykes.

The number of villages affected in the state due to the first wave of floods had gone up to 200, while a total area of over 7,000 hectares had been affected so far, official sources said.

The flood water was, however, reported to be receding in Dhemaji district since yesterday.

Delhi experienced a sharp rise in humidity levels to 92 per cent even though the capital's tryst with pleasant weather, brought about by pre-Monsoon showers last weekend, continued.

The maximum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 33.8 degrees Celsius, a slight drop from 34 degrees yesterday.

The mercury continued to stay below normal in most parts of the North-West following rains, providing respite to people from hot weather conditions.

Amritsar recorded 35.8 degrees, four degrees below normal, while Ludhiana and Patiala registered 34.0 degrees.

The temperatures remained almost unchanged in Haryana with Ambala recording 34.2 degrees, five degrees below normal. Karnal stood at 31.2 degrees, eight degrees below normal.

The mercury hovered below normal at Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana. The city recorded 33.8 degrees, five degrees below normal.

In Himachal Pradesh, the mercury rose in the lower hills of the state despite rainfall. Una recorded 36.4 degrees, Bhuntar 33.3 degrees , Sundernagar 32.1 degrees and Kalpa 22.1 degrees.

Udaipur in south Rajasthan was lashed by heavy rains and 67.6 mm rain was recorded there in the past 24 hours, the Weather office said.

Other parts of Rajasthan have also been receiving rainfall with Churu mapping 13 mm rainfall, Bikaner 11, Pilani 3 mm and traces in Jodhpur.

The maximum temperature in Jaipur was recorded at 37 degrees with high humidity.

After a few days of pleasant weather, sweltering heat coupled with high humidity returned to Bihar today.

The day's maximum temperature was recorded at 36 degrees while the minimum was 26 degrees, the met office said.

UNI