Eight killed by lightning in UP

LUCKNOW: Eight people were killed and 13 others suffered severe burns after being struck by lightning during thunderstorms in Balia, Varanasi and Mirzapur districts of Uttar Pradesh on Monday.

Two persons were killed in Chitgaon and one each in Nagra and Pakdi areas and 11 others injured after bolts of lightning struck various places in Balia district.

Tractor-trolley driver Raja Babu was killed in Mirapur Basahi village and Abhishek alias Chotu died under similar conditions in Lachhapur village of Varanasi district during the thunderstorms that began in the wee hours, official reports reaching here said.

They said a power sub-station in Daulatpur area of the district was also damaged and power supply disrupted.

In Mirzapur district, two persons were killed in Chunar while another two suffered severed burns in Adalhat area.

Heavy rains and hailstorms lashed many places in the districts overnight, damaging standing wheat, pea, oilseeds and other crops, officials said.

The extent of the damage was being assessed.