76 people from 3 states killed due to lightning strikes in a day

Nearly 76 people across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh died after being struck by lightning in the last 24 hours. Apparently, a number of those people were capturing selfies near a historical fort in northern India.

According to a state disaster department official, among the 23 people who died in Rajasthan, at least a dozen of them were watching the storm cross Jaipur from watch towers near the 12th-century Amer Fort on Sunday night. A police official from Jaipur was reportedly quoted as saying, “It was already raining when the people were there. They huddled in the towers as the rainfall intensified. Some of the injured were left unconscious by the strikes. Others ran out in panic and extreme pain.” Another officer said, “With the help of locals, we rescued around 29 people from the Amber Fort area after lightning struck them. They were taken to the hospital.”

Another 41 people died due to the strikes in Uttar Pradesh over the weekend while Madhya Pradesh reported 12 casualties in 24 hours. Speaking to the media, a 23-year-old survivor, identified as Izhar Ali said, “We screamed for help, but no one could hear us from over the mountains.” PM Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from to the next of kin of those who lost their lives while Rs. 50,000 would be provided to the injured.