Lightening strikes leave 24 dead in India

In the last two days, the western Indian state of Gujarat has seen 24 lightning-related deaths and roughly 23 rain-related injuries, according to government officials. As of Monday morning, the rains are still falling.

According to state government data, the state experienced severe rain, thunderstorms, and hailstorms on Sunday and Monday. Some locations in the state received as much as 144mm (5.7 inches) of rain in the 24 hours that ended Monday morning.

Across the state, the rains resulted in cattle losses and damage to homes. Additionally, at least 40 animals perished!

“We will begin a survey soon to assess the loss suffered,” Gujarat Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel said on Monday, adding that compensation will be paid to victims on the basis of the survey’s results.

Rainfall is expected to persist in some areas of the state on Monday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

In a post on the social media platform X, Federal Home Minister Amit Shah, who is from Gujarat along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed his "deep sadness" over the deaths.

Although large-scale rainstorms are common in Gujarat during the winter, many people were unprepared for the intense downpours that caught them off guard.

In just two days in August 2020, a number of incidents involving heavy rains and flooding claimed the lives of fourteen people in the state. Thirty-one people lost their lives in rain-related incidents in the state in August of the previous year, 2019.

Scientists warn that a series of extreme weather events are being unleashed by rising global temperatures, even though flash floods and lightning kill dozens of people in India annually.

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