Ranchi: Nature's fury claimed five lives in Jharkhand within 24 hours, as lightning strikes accompanied by heavy rains lashed four districts.
Among the victims were a 12-year-old girl and two women, police said on Saturday.
In Ranchi's Kulli village, young Ashrita was collecting mangoes with her parents when a bolt struck, killing her instantly and injuring both parents, who were rushed to a local health centre. Garhwa district reported two deaths, a 45-year-old woman in Garakhurd village and a 32-year-old man in Banajangha. In Dhanbad, a 44-year-old woman died in Chungi village, while Bokaro saw the death of a 21-year-old man in Babudih village.
The sudden lightning strikes triggered panic among residents and passers-by, with police stepping in to manage rescue and traffic. Officials confirmed that the damaged areas were being monitored closely.
While the rains brought relief from soaring temperatures, the tragedy underscored the deadly risks of lightning during monsoon's early bursts.