Monsoon death toll rises to 87

NEW DELHI: The death toll from lightning strikes and powerful storms rose to 87 on Saturday as annual summer monsoon lashed the country earlier than usual, authorities said.   

Another 12 people died in two states due to lightning and accidents caused by lashing rains on top of 75 deaths reported earlier in the week, a PTI report citing police said.   

In Jharkand, six people were struck dead by lightning Friday afternoon while another two had died the previous night.   

In Uttar Pradesh, two people died on Friday after trees uprooted by heavy winds fell on them while another two were killed in house collapses.   

A total of 32 dead have been reported from Uttar Pradesh alone since May 18, when the monsoon hit India's Andaman archipelago and then swirled up the west coast states of Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat.   

The Maharashtra government announced 19 rain-related deaths during the week in the state, while 12 deaths have been reported from Gujarat, nine from West Bengal and three from Kerala.   

Arunachal Pradesh, meanwhile, has sounded a flood alert after 478 millimetres (19 inches) of rain fell in two districts, PTI reported.   

Communications between the districts and the neighbouring state of Assam snapped and numerous landslides blocked roads, an official said.