Kolkata, 25 July (H.S.): At least 13 people have died due to lightning strikes in three districts of West Bengal in the past 24 hours, according to the state disaster management department.

The worst-hit district was Bankura, where seven fatalities were reported. Five people died in Purba Bardhaman, while one person lost his life in Paschim Medinipur.

According to a statement released Friday morning, Jiaul Haque Molla, a farmer from Khiri village under Kotulpur police station in Bankura, died after being struck by lightning while working in the fields. Locals rushed him to a nearby hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival.

In another incident in Patrasayer, a youth named Jiban Ghosh sustained critical burn injuries due to lightning. He was successively moved from Patrasayer Block Primary Health Centre to Bishnupur Super Speciality Hospital and finally to Bankura Sammilani Medical College, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Three others—Narayan Sabar from the Onda area, Sheikh Ismail from Indas, and Uttam Bhuiya from Jaipur—also died due to separate lightning strikes in Bankura district. Another individual in Indas was reported injured.

In Purba Bardhaman, Sanatan Patra (60) was working in the fields in Madhabdihi area when he was struck. He was taken to Alampur Primary Health Centre, where he was declared dead.

Another fatality was reported in Bhedia village under Ausgram police station, where Sanjay Hebraram (28) died due to a lightning strike.

In Paschim Medinipur’s Chandrakona area, Lakshmikanta Pan (42) was also killed in a similar incident.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a lightning and thunderstorm warning for several districts in South Bengal until July 27. Authorities have urged people to stay indoors during adverse weather conditions and avoid open areas to minimize risks.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh