Fifteen injured in lightning in western Nepal; rehabilitation works in storm-hit areas underway

At least 15 people were injured after lightning struck them in remote Achham district in Nepal, which has been battered by a freak storm that has claimed 31 lives and left a trail of destruction.

The lightning struck far-West Achham district on Monday evening injuring 11 persons in Panchadewal Binayak area and four others in Ramaroshan Rural Municipality a day after the massive storm tore down houses, flipped vehicles and toppled trees and electricity poles in Southern Nepal.

Massive winds accompanied by hailstorms and rain struck Bara and the adjoining district of Parsa in the central Tarai region on Sunday evening killing at least 31 people and injuring 600 others.

Losses to the agricultural, industrial and energy sectors from Sunday night's killer rainstorm are expected to total millions of rupees, officials said. Heavy rain and strong winds lashed the two districts