Couple, 2 Daughters Among 17 Killed in Lightning Strikes in Eastern UP Parts

At least 17 people were killed while six were injured in lightning strikes in two Prayagraj villages, Gorakhpur and Basti divisions, and Jaunpur district in separate incidents from Saturday night to Sunday morning, authorities said.

- HT Correspondent

PRAYAGRAJ/GORAKHPUR/VARANASI:

Five people, including a couple and their two children, died after being struck by lightning in two incidents in Prayagraj district late on Saturday night. The couple and their two children died in Sonbarsa village under Bara police station's jurisdiction, they added.

In another incident, which occurred in Kalyanpur village under Shankergarh police station area of Prayagraj, a 29-year-old man died on the spot while his wife suffered severe burns.

As per reports, Virendra Banvasi, 35, and his wife Parvati, 32, were sleeping in their hut with two daughters Radha, 3, and Karishma, 2, when lightning struck. All four died on the spot as the hut was reduced to ashes. The deceased couple's two elder daughters -- Son Kumari, 10, and Anchal, 8, -- were staying with their grandparents on the fateful night, officials said.

Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar (29), a resident of Kalyanpur village under Shankergarh police station limits, died while his wife Kusum, 27, suffered serious burns in a lightning strike. Kusum was admitted to a private hospital in Shankargarh, where her condition was stable, officials said.