Bengal: Lightning Strike Death Toll Rises To 26

The death toll in the lightning strike incident in various parts of West Bengal has surged to 26, ANI reported on Tuesday.

As per the report, 11 of them were from Hooghly, nine from Murshidabad, two in Bankura, and two each in East Midnapore and West Midnapore.

Earlier yesterday, the West Bengal State disaster management authority had said that 20 people had died in the lightning strike. This has now surged to 26.

In light of the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of ₹ 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those killed and ₹ 50,000 for the injured.

In a tweet, PM Modi said, "My thoughts are with all those who lost their near and dear ones due to lightning in parts of West Bengal. May the injured recover at the earliest."

The Prime Minister's Office said in a tweet, "PM @narendramodi has approved an ex-gratia of ₹ 2 lakh each from the PMNRF for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to lightning in various parts of West Bengal. ₹ 50,000 would be given to the injured."

Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty wind occurred in several districts of south Bengal in the evening after a sweltering day, the Met department said.

Purba Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, Hooghly, Howrah, Murshidabad, Purulia, Bankura and Nadia experienced thunderstorms as pre-monsoon showers occurred in several places of these districts.

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