At least 71 people, including seven children, died and over 70 injured in separate lightning incidents in the past 24 hours across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. So far, a total of 41 people have been killed and 30 injured in 16 districts across Uttar Pradesh (UP), 23 in Rajasthan, and seven in Madhya Pradesh (MP).
In a major tragedy in Jaipur, 12 people, mostly youngsters, were killed and 11 injured in an incident of lightning strike at the iconic watchtower near the Amber Fort. Some of them were taking selfies on the watchtower while the others were on the hill nearby.
Besides, lightning also killed hundreds of animals across these States in the last 24 hours. As per the India Meteorological Department, over 100 people have died in the last two months due to lightning across India.
Lightning strikes have killed over 48,000 people, more than cyclones since 2001 in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those killed due to the lightning strikes in all the three States and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
