Six killed in lightning; heavy rain across Rajasthan

JAIPUR: Six people, including a couple, were killed in lightning strikes in Sawai Madhopur and Dausa districts of the state. Active western disturbances saw a sudden change in weather, resulting in rainfall and hailstorm in many places on Friday.

CM Bhajan Lal Sharma announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased killed in lightning strikes. While the disaster relief department will contribute Rs 4 lakh each, the district administration will give Rs 1 lakh. The CM has also announced crop assessment in areas hit by rainfall and hailstorm.

Lightning strikes ACP office in Sanganer with loud noise
The couple, identified as Rajendra Meena (36) and Jalebi Meena (34), had gone to harvest crops in their farm in Choth Ka Barwada area of Sawai Madhopur when they were struck by lightning. The couple is survived by three children. Local Khandar MLA Jitendra Gothwal assured the family of financial help as per norms. A shepherd, identified as Dhanna Lal Meena of Nantodi village under the Mitrapura police station; a 33-year-old man, Satveer, of Rodwad village were also killed in the district. Three others suffered burn injuries. In Dausa, a 14-year-old Class 10 girl student, identified as China Meena, was killed in Daulatpura village under the Lalsoth tehsil. A 33-year-old man, identified as Shahrukh Khan, too died from lightning in Lalsoth town. The Met department attributed the climatic change to active western disturbances, and said that lightning, hailstorm and rainfall would occur in many places in Jaipur, Bharatpur, Ajmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner divisions in the next 24 hours.

However, a rise in temperature of almost 3 degrees Celsius on an average was witnessed in state. Alwar and Karauli remained coldest with a minimum temperature of 10.8 degrees Celsius. In Jaipur, people woke up to a warm morning as the city recorded a minimum temperature of 17.0 degrees Celsius. But in the evening, the city and suburbs experienced heavy dust storms with a velocity of 50 to 60km/hour along with lightning and rain. While there was heavy rainfall in Tonk Road, Sikar Road, Kalwar Road and nearby areas, the city's outskirts, especially Bassi, Bagru and Kalwar areas, experienced hailstorms. Lightning also struck the office of ACP in Sanganer with a loud explosion-like noise.