Chennai: A total of 68 people died in separate lightning incidents across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan on Sunday.
At least 41 people, including women and children, have been killed by lightning in Uttar Pradesh as many places in the state received showers on Sunday. A majority of the deaths – 14 – were reported in Prayagraj district.
Lightning strikes claimed 20 lives in Rajasthan on Sunday. Among the deceased, seven were children from Kota and Dholpur districts. Over 10 more people have been reported to suffer injuries. Seven died due to lightning strike in Madhya Pradesh. Lightning strikes have been killing 2,000 Indians on average since 2004.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that deaths by lightning strikes have doubled in the country since the 1960s – one of the reasons they cited was the climate crisis.