At least 29 people were killed in lightning strikes across India’s western Maharashtra state, it was reported on Tuesday.
State officials said the deaths were reported as heavy storms lashed the several areas in Maharashtra in the last three days.
At least eight people were killed in the eastern Latur district, while five were killed in central Aurangabad, the PTI news agency reported, quoting official sources. Other districts like Jalna, Beed, Parbani and Nanded also reported deaths due to lightning.
With the fatalities, the death toll due to flooding and lightning strikes brought on by the monsoon season in India has risen to 217.
The monsoon rains, occurring from June to September, also cause widespread destruction of buildings and crops. — Sapa-dpa