Lightning kills seven in Bihar

Seven persons, including five children were killed and six others critically injured today when lightning struck them in Bihar's Siwan and Patna districts.

Four children - Mukesh (14), Rakesh (08), Sonu (12) and Dhobu (08) - were roasted alive and three others sustained burns when lightning struck them at Morarpatti village in Bihar's Siwan district this morning when they were standing under a tree, the police said.

In Patna district, three persons - Manorama (45), Rama Devi (24) and a child Mala (07) - died and four others were injured in a series of flashes of lightning that burned a few huts at Lodipur village of the district, which recorded a rainfall of 12 mm this afternoon, sources said.

Three others who sustained burns were admitted to a hospital at Raghunathpur where their condition was stated to be critical, sources said.

Meanwhile, angry villagers ransacked the hospital, burned the medicine store, besides the doctors' room alleging that the hospital lacked proper medicare facilities.

The situation was controlled after senior district officials, including Raghunathpur's sub-divisional police officer, reached the spot and pacified the villagers.

The injured persons in Lodipur village were given first-aid at Khusrupur hospital, sources added.