Two dead, five injured in lightning strike in West Bengal's Malda

Lightning strike in West Bengal's Malda claimed two lives on Sunday, leaving five others injured. People were working in the agricultural fields when lightning hit the area accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms.

Malda: Two women were killed and five other people injured in the lightning strike during a thunderstorm in West Bengal's Malda district on Sunday, police said.

At least six women were working in the fields when the lightning occurred, said a local.

Saras Mondal, a local, said, "People were sowing paddy in the fields when lightning strike happened. The incident took place in Dobra village in the afternoon. Rahila Mondal was injured and was taken to the hospital and two women were killed."

Strong winds accompanied by lightning strike lashed the Harishchandrapur area of the Chanchal sub-division in the afternoon, killing two women and injuring five other people working in the agricultural fields in Gobra village, officials added.

The deceased have been identified as Jaya Mandal and Seema Mandal, both residents of Daulatnagar area, a police officer added.

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They were taken to a local health centre, where the two were declared brought dead, while the injured people were shifted to the Malda Medical College and Hospital and the Chanchal Super Speciality Hospital.

Earlier in June, at least six people lost their lives in two separate incidents of lightning strikes in Murshidabad district.

According to cops, labourers were working in a brinjal farm and had taken shelter in a pumphouse when thunderstorm hit the area. But, the house was struck by lightning.

With PTI inputs