Nine killed in lightning strikes across West Bengal

May 19 : Nine people were killed in lightning strikes across West Bengal last night while ten others sustained injuries and 25,000 houses destroyed as thunder storms swept across the state.

District Magistrate, East Midnapore, Thoten D Lama today said two people were killed when lightning struck them at Kultali village of Contai area.

Similarly, two people were killed in lightning strikes at Lalgarh area of West Midnapore district.

The DM informed that as many as 25,000 houses were razed to the ground and ten people sustained injuries as thunder storms swept across several villages of Contai, Egra and Mohanpur areas since last evening.

Meanwhile, a report from Bankura district said five people, including four women, were killed in lightning strikes last evening.