West Bengal Weather Turns Deadly: Lightning Kills Three Under Shelter Tree

Lightning struck three people to death and injured at least four others in West Bengal's Nadia and Jalpaiguri districts even as intensifying heat conditions threw normal life almost out of gear as people preferred to remain indoors during the day to avoid the scorching sun, official sources said on Friday.

Nadia district administrative town Santipur witnessed the death of two people and critically burn injuries of another after lightning struck them at Sutragarh Block No 10 on Thursday evening.

The deceased were identified as Babai Ghosh and Kashi Ghosh. The wounded Pagla Sadhukhan was admitted to the Santipur State General Hospital with multiple burns. The trio were struck by the lightning after they took shelter under a banyan tree following a sudden burst of rain, witnesses said.

The third death from lightning happened at Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri district of north Bengal where three others persons also sustained burn wounds.

The incident occurred at Mallickpara where Prabhat Chandra Roy (52) was killed in a rain-related incident. Among the injured was a woman identified as Basanti Roy who was critically injured.

She was admitted to the Jalpaiguri Super Speciality hospital.

The weather office predicted that many districts of south and north Bengal are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall in the coming few days.

These districts are also likely to witness gusty winds and thunderstorms.

The weather department has advised the residents to follow the guidelines and limit their outings to avoid any inconveniences.

The temperature in major parts of south Bengal was hovering between 36 to 40 degrees Celsius, but felt like between 42 and 44 degrees owing to humidity.