Lightning claims eight lives in Jharkhand

RANCHI - Lightning claimed the lives of eight people, including two women, in two districts of Jharkhand, police said Wednesday.

Three farmers died while sowing paddy in fields when lightning struck them Wednesday morning at Kenamkathi village of Deoghar district, around 375 km from Ranchi, police said.

In the other incident at Madhupur of the same district, two women involved in paddy transplantation died due to lightning Tuesday night. A passerby also died the same way at Sarath in the district.

Meanwhile, two people were killed by lightning in Godda district of Jharkhand Tuesday night.

Lightning has claimed more than 23 lives in the state so far this year. Every year, more than 60 people die this way in the state.