Lightning kills 27 in Bihar

At least 27 people, including women and children, have been killed in lightning strikes across Bihar in the past 24 hours, an official said Wednesday.

"In the last 24 hours, at least 27 people, including six children and three women, have been killed by bolts of lightning across Bihar," an official of the state Disaster Management Department said.

More than two dozen people have sustained serious burn injuries.

Nalanda and Aurangabad districts reported six deaths each, Rohtas four, Shekhpura and Nawada three each, and Gaya and Bhojpur two each. One death was reported from Kaimur.

"Lightning killed three children who were playing in a mango orchard at Enjhi village in Sheikhpura; three children died after being struck by lightning when they took shelter under a tree to escape rains in Rohtas," an official said.

Lightning strikes during the June-September monsoon season are common in Bihar.