One dead, 16 hurt in lightning strike

A 43-year-old man was killed and 16 others, including six women, were injured after they were struck by lightning in Chhattigsarh's Jashpur district, police said Saturday.

In another incident Saturday, 22 cattle died after they were struck by a bolt from the sky in Bijapur district.

On Friday night, some people were dancing in an open area during a marriage party in Gadha Gamhariya village in Jashpur district when a thunderstorm started, according to police.

A man, identified as Rooshnath, died on the spot when he was struck by lightning while 16 others, including six women, injured, a police official said.

The injured were rushed to district hospital, he said, adding that they are out of danger.

On Saturday morning, lightning struck a tree in Gollaguda village in Bhopalpatnam area of Bijapur district where cattles were tied, leaving 15 cows and 7 bulls dead, an administrative official said.