Four killed in lightning strikes in MCB district

RAIPUR: Four persons, including two minors, were killed and four others were critically injured in lightning strikes triggered by a thunderstorm and rains at different places of newly formed Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur (MCB) district in Chhattisgarh on Saturday.
In the first incident, strong winds accompanied by lightning strikeshit the border of Koriya and MCB districts around 12.30 pm, killing Siyon Toppo, 20, a resident of Chhachharpara in Koriya district, and Ashish Toppo, 17, a resident of Sonbarsa under Podi police station in MCB when they took shelter under a Mahua tree to protect themselves from rain.
In another incident, 55-year-old Ramgarh resident, Shivcharan, along with his son, Ajit Kumar, and nephew, Santosh Kumar. were busy with work outside their house when lightning struck them. Shivcharan died on the spot while his son and nephew sustained serious injuries. They were admitted to Janakpur hospital in MCB.
The third and final incident occurred in Dhanpur village of Pendra police station area. 13-year-old Deepak Yadav was killed after being struck by lightning. The boy was playing cricket on the ground along with his friends when lightning struck him around 2.30 pm.
Two boys, identified as Nishant Uraon, 13, and Anand Yadav, 13, were also injured after being struck by lightning. They were undergoing treatment in a local hospital.