8 killed in lightning strikes in West Bengal: Govt

At least eight people were killed and several others injured in separate incidents of lightning strike and a wall collapse, the West Bengal government said today.

However, police in Murshidabad district reported four more deaths - two in Khargram, one in Bharatpur and one in Sagardighi.

While three people were killed at Kaligunje in Nadia district, two died in Deganga and one at Amdanga in North 24-Parganas district, one died at Kumargunje in North Dinajpur and one at Domkal in Murshidabad, said Javed Jhan, the disaster management minister.

Most of the victims were struck by lightning, while two people died after a portion of a wall collapsed and fell on them, the minister said.

Four people were injured in Purulia and two others were injured at Khargram in Murshidabad district, where about 150 families were affected.

Relief materials have been rushed to the affected people by the district authority, the minister said.

According to the police, a 12-year-old boy was killed in Bharatpur area in lightning while he was playing in a field.

One person was killed when a portion of a wall collapsed and fell on him at Sagardighi area of the district during heavy rains, they said.