Over 90 people die from lightning strikes in India in 2 days

More than 90 people have been killed by lightning strikes in various parts of north and east India in the last two days, as annual monsoon rains sweep across the country. Most of the victims were farmers working in open fields.

Most of the deaths occurred in the eastern state of Bihar, where 56 people were killed and 24 others injured during heavy thunderstorms the last two days. Many of the victims were women and children. The local government has issued an advisory asking people to keep away from open fields during thundershowers and offered compensation to the families of victims.

The other deaths were reported from the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. 

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Lightning strikes are common during the monsoon period between June and October when India receives the bulk of its rainfall, but the death toll in the last two days has been unusually high.

Lightning strikes kill more people in India than any other natural calamity, including floods, earthquakes and cyclones. India has had an average of 2,000 deaths every year linked to lightning strikes since 2005. In 2014, the number climbed to 2,582 deaths, most of them in rural areas where farm labourers work in open fields. 

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