Twelve persons, including three women and three minors, were killed and five were wounded by lightning during a thunderstorm in Malda and Murshidabad on Thursday. Malda accounted for 11 deaths. Disaster management personnel were deployed to rescue the wounded.
Several of the victims were picking mangoes when lightning struck, including Monojit Mondal (21), Samar Mridha (16) and Chandan Sahani (35) in Sahapur, Asit Saha (19) in Adina, Atul Mandal (65) of Haddatola and Sabidul Sk (13) under Manikchak PS. In Harishchandrapur, Priyanka Singha (20) and Nyan Roy died in a field. Sumitra Mandal (45) of Balupur was outside her home when she was struck by lightning. At Shobhanagar, Suitara Biwi and Pankaj Mandal (24) died from lightning strike, while a Budhia woman and a class VIII boy in Sahapur were wounded. In Murshidabad’s Nabagram, Simanta Ghosh (32) died and three were hurt while herding cattle.
CM Mamata Banerjee expressed her condolences, stating: My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones in Malda due to the tragic lightning strikes. I extend my deepest condolences to them during this difficult time. Our district administration is working tirelessly to provide all necessary support to the affected. We will do everything in our capacity to assist those in need.
