Nine killed by lightning in Bengal rains

Kolkata, June 20: Heavy monsoon rains coupled with thunder and lightning on Monday claimed at least nine lives in several districts of West Bengal, police said.

Five persons from West Bengal's Hooghly district died after being struck by lightning while three more were injured, police said on

"Three people from Chinsurah and two more from Dhaniakhali died due to lightning. Three more from Chinsurah were also injured," Hooghly Superintendent of Police Sukesh Jain told.

There were more deaths in East Burdwan district as heavy rains and lightning lashed the state on Monday evening.

"Two men have died in East Burdwan district's Jamalpur on Monday due to lightning," police said.

One more person died in North 24 Parganas due to the same reason.

Meanwhile, heavy rain and thundershowers are predicted for the next two days, said an official for the Regional Meteorological Centre at Alipore.

"It will be cloudy all throughout and there will be rain in the next two days.

The maximum temperature will be around 30 degree Celsius with the minimum being 24 degrees," the official added.

The seasonal thunderstorm hit various parts of the state on Monday evening. There was waterlogging in some parts of south Kolkata throwing traffic out of gear.

However, citizens got a respite after the week-long heat wave.