Couple killed in lightning strike, close shave for infant

A tribal couple was today killed while their infant daughter escaped when lightning struck them at Ranighaghar village here, police said.

The victim couple, Mukesh Hembram and Suhagini Soren, along with their seven-month-old daughter were returning to their home at Jamjori when rain accompanied by thunderbolt lashed the area, Officer in-charge of Jamjori police station, Rampukar Singh said.

The couple took shelter under a tree near a pond where they were struck by the lightning, he said, adding, they were killed instantly while the child fell from her mother's lap and escaped death.

The child was reported to be safe, Singh added.