Herdsman, 2 children killed in lightning strike in Chhattisgarh's Surguja; girl injured

Ambikapur (Chhattisgarh), Jun 29 (PTI) A 36-year-old herdsman and two children were killed, while a 12-year-old girl sustained burn injuries after lightning struck a tree under which they took shelter from rain in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district on Monday, police said. The incident occurred around 4 pm in Dumki village under Dhourpur police station limits when weather conditions suddenly changed, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall across parts of the district, an official said. The deceased were identified as Ram Sai (36), who was grazing cattle, Sagar (5), and Rani (9). Sagar's sister, Shraddha (12), suffered burn injuries and was admitted to the Community Health Centre in Dhourpur, where doctors said that she was out of danger, the official said. As per preliminary information, the three children from Dhourpur had gathered under a mango tree in adjacent Dumki to collect fallen mangoes when it started raining. Ram Sai, who was grazing oxen nearby, also took shelter under the same tree, he said. Moments later, lightning struck the tree, killing Ram Sai, Sagar and Rani on the spot, the official said. Rani, a native of Dabra village in neighbouring Balrampur district, had come to Dhourpur to visit relatives, he added. The bodies of the deceased were sent for post-mortem, police said. PTI COR TKP NP