NEW DELHI: At least 14 people were killed and several others injured after lightning strikes hit India’s eastern state of Jharkhand during heavy monsoon rains on Tuesday, local authorities and Indian media reported.
The deadliest incidents occurred in Giridih district, where 10 people lost their lives after lightning struck multiple locations amid thunderstorms.
Police said most of the victims were farmers and agricultural workers who were working in fields when the lightning struck. At least seven people were injured and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
State authorities launched relief operations in the affected areas and directed district officials to ensure immediate medical assistance for the injured and support for the families of those killed.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that Jharkhand could experience more heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning over the coming days. Authorities urged residents, particularly farmers and people working in open areas, to avoid unnecessary outdoor activity during severe weather.
Meteorologists say lightning-related fatalities typically increase during India’s annual monsoon season, claiming dozens of lives each year.
According to an IMD report released in January, more than 200 people were killed in lightning and thunderstorm-related incidents across Jharkhand in 2025, highlighting the state’s vulnerability to extreme weather.
Elsewhere in India, monsoon rains continued to cause widespread destruction. Nearly 90 people have died in floods and rain-related incidents in the northeastern state of Assam, while at least 15 people have been killed in the southern state of Kerala. Thousands have also been displaced by heavy rains.
