Tragic lightning strike kills 4 in Bankura, West Bengal

Bankura district in West Bengal experienced a devastating incident when a sudden lightning strike took the lives of four individuals and left four others injured.

The General Secretary of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Abhishek Banerjee, expressed his condolences for the victims and pledged assistance to the affected families. The calamity unfolded in Bankura district amidst heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. Two women were among the casualties, tragically losing their lives due to the lightning strike.

Additionally, four people sustained injuries. In response to the incident, Abhishek Banerjee instructed MLA Sameer Chakraborty to visit the victims' families and provide support. According to reports, the incident occurred on Monday while five women were collecting firewood in the forest near Nityanandpur village in Gangajalghati, Bankura. As they sought shelter near a wall to escape the rain, lightning struck a nearby tree, leading to the untimely demise of two women who were seeking refuge beneath it.

The remaining three injured individuals are currently receiving treatment at Amarkanan Rural Hospital. The deceased women have been identified as China Lohar (60) and Maya Lohar (38), both residents of Tarkabaid village in Gangajalghati, Bankura.

Regrettably, two more casualties resulting from lightning strikes were reported in the Bishnupur police station area of Bankura district. The victims were identified as Chandan Nag, a resident of Arjunpur, and Mahadev from Jhatora. In addition to the fatalities, a resident of Bamantor in Belshuria sustained injuries and was admitted to the hospital.

In response to the tragic events, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, acting upon the instructions of Sameer Chakraborty, will meet with the families of the deceased and injured from both incidents in Gangajalghati and Bishnupur, Bankura.

The Meteorological Office has forecasted heavy to very heavy rainfall in North Bengal throughout the week, while the intensity of rainfall is expected to decrease in South Bengal. However, the region will still face high temperatures and humidity. The Meteorological Department has also issued a warning regarding the increased likelihood of lightning strikes during such weather conditions.