Monsoon carnage struck four districts in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, with 11 people killed by lightning strikes, bringing the total death toll from the natural event to 45, officials said, Hindustan Times reported.
Six companions who had gone for a picnic in Sheopur’s Ajnoi woodland were struck by lightning, according to official statistics. Ramabharat Adiwasi, Dilip Adiwasi, and Mukesh Adiwasi, all in their early twenties, were killed on the scene, while Dayaram Adiwasi, Satish Adiwasi, and Somdev Adiwasi were critically injured and were taken to Gwalior Medical College.
In another incidence in Bhind, two ladies, Ramkali (70) and Gyanodevi (40), died for the same reasons while coming home in Sukand village.
A woman and her son perished on the spot in Chhatarpur while working on their farm in Maharajganj village. Another lady farmer, Radha Ahirwar (50), died under identical circumstances in the district’s Amarwan hamlet.
In other cases, a 35-year-old man from Shivpuri and two people in their 30s and 40s from Gwalior died from the same cause.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a thunderstorm and lightning warning for eight districts in Madhya Pradesh.
“We are witnessing heavy rainfall in many parts of the state due to a low-pressure area in central MP. In Gwalior-Chambal region, there was a lot of lightning activity due to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds on Wednesday,” Vedprakash Sharma, IMD scientist and radar head in Bhopal was quoted by HT in its report.
“Due to climate change, lightning incidents during monsoon have increased. Otherwise, cumulonimbus clouds mostly form during pre-monsoon activities,” he added.
According to IMD experts, Madhya Pradesh had the greatest amount of cloud formation and lightning events in the country in 2021.
While seeking anonymity, an official said, “With predictions of lightning and thunderstorms, it is necessary to issue warnings at village levels through public display and announcement systems. The MP government should make arrangements,” HT reported.