8 killed in lightning strikes in Bihar

Eight persons, including minors, were killed in separate incidents of lightning in Bihar's Kishanganj and Katihar districts today.
Five persons were killed as lightning struck when they were working at a brick kiln at Rashiya Panchyat under Thakurganj block of Kishanganj district, Sub-Divisional Officer Mohammad Shafique said.
The five included a father-son duo, the SDO said, adding all five were brick kiln labourers.
The next of the kin of the victims will be given Rs four lakh each as ex gratia, the SDO said.
In two other incidents of lightning in Katihar, three persons, including two minors, died, while two other minors sustained burn injuries in different villages.

Barsoi Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Firoz Akhtar said one Gautam Nonia (20) was killed in a lightning strike this morning.

Nonia was a resident of Chaudi village under Barsoi police station area of Katihar district.
In a separate incident in Katihar, two minors were killed and two other minors received burn injuries in a lightning strike when they were playing in a bamboo grove at Kadamgachi village under the same police station, the SDO added.
The deceased have been identified as Chirag Alam (8) and Mohammad Sahil (11), while those who suffered burn injuries are Sifat Parveen (8) and Mohammad Hakim (10), Akhtar said.

The injured children were being treated at a local hospital, the official said.
Each of the bereaved family will be given Rs four lakh as ex gratia, he said.
Those who died in the lightning strike were the children of farm labourers.