Lightning strikes claim 8 lives in Uttar Pradesh; Chief Minister announces relief

Tragedy struck as at least 8 people lost their lives, and an equal number sustained injuries due to lightning strikes in Kushinagar and Deoria districts of Uttar Pradesh on a fateful Sunday. The sudden and severe lightning strikes caught people off guard, leading to a loss of lives and injuries. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences and swiftly took action to provide relief and support to the affected families.

Fatal strikes in Kushinagar

In Kushinagar district, three women, identified as Subhavati (50), Hasibun Nisha (48), and Manju Devi (50), tragically lost their lives when lightning struck while they sought shelter under a shed with their cattle in Panchphera village. Additionally, a young boy named Guddu (5) was playing near his house in Tari Sujan village when lightning struck, claiming his life. In another incident within Kushinagar's Kaptanganj police station jurisdiction, an individual named Mithilesh Sharma lost his life.

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Impact in Deoria district

Deoria district also faced the wrath of lightning strikes, with the village of Kalyani in Salempur bearing the brunt. Sandeep Yadav (20) and Pankaj Yadav (22) were tragically killed while working in their paddy field. Prahlad Prasad lost his life in Barhaj town in a similar incident. Three others sustained minor injuries during these incidents.

Government response

Upon learning of this natural calamity, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives. While he was in Gorakhpur, he promptly announced an ex gratia relief of ₹4 lakh for the families of each deceased person. He directed the district magistrates of both Kushinagar and Deoria districts to provide all necessary assistance to the affected families and ensure the best possible treatment for those injured in the lightning strikes.

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District authorities, including District Magistrate Umesh Mishra in Kushinagar and SP Dhawal Jaiswal, swiftly responded by visiting the community health center in Kaptanganj to assess the condition of the injured individuals and offer them assurance and support during this difficult time.