RAMGARH/GODDA: Five women were killed and four others injured after lightning strikes in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh and Godda districts on Sunday, police said.Of the five deaths, three were reported from Patratu block in Ramgarh district, while two women died in Maheshpur-Rampur village under Basantrai block in Godda district, officials said.All the victims were killed while sowing paddy in the fields, he said.“Three women were killed in lightning strikes in two villages of Ramgarh. They were identified as Rekha Devi (45) and Roshni Kumari (21), both from Sakul village, and Sushanti Devi (34), a resident of Palani village,” Patratu Police Station officer-in-charge Shivlal Kumar Gupta told PTI.Besides, two women were killed in Godda district, another officer said, adding that the identities of the deceased are yet to be confirmed.Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday forecast heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds across several parts of Jharkhand over the next four days.The weather office issued a ‘yellow’ alert (be aware) for isolated thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rain in several districts from August 3 to 6.The IMD said light to moderate rainfall, along with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph, is likely across the state during this period.According to the IMD bulletin, northwestern districts, including Garhwa, Palamu, Chatra and Latehar, along with central districts such as Hazaribag, Koderma, Ramgarh and Bokaro, are likely to receive heavy rainfall on Tuesday.(With agency inputs)
