Couple killed due to lightning, toll mounts to 17 in Bihar

A couple was killed after being hit by lightning in a village in Bihar's Madhepura district taking the death toll to 17 in the state, an official said today.

The incident took place in Balwa village last evening when lightning struck Hare Krishna Pandit and his wife Anokhi Devi while they were grazing their cattle in a field, Circle Officer Uday Krishna Yadav said.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem, he said.

15 persons were killed after they were struck by lightning in separate incidents in Aurangabad, Rohtas, Nawada and Sheikhpura districts yesterday.