Maharashtra: 2 women, a man & 26 cattle killed by lightning in Marathwada

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Two persons from Beed and one from Nanded districts were killed by lightning on Wednesday, as several parts of Marathwada continued to witness adverse weather conditions.
A total of 26 cattle were also killed in different parts of the region, whereas one house was damaged in Beed due to unseasonal rain and heavy winds, as per official records. However, no damage to the agricultural sector could be ascertained during the preliminary analysis carried out by the authorities.
Citing the official forecast, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University warned of unseasonal rain and storm for some parts of Marathwada in the next 24 hours as well.
According to official data, Ashti taluka of Beed reported the two deaths caused by lightning. The deceased have been identified as Tai Sanjay Sawant, a resident of Mauje Sangvi village, and Kajal Vikas Mali, a resident of Mauje Kerul village.
Shankar Dhondiba Ghorband, a resident of Pangra village from Kandhar taluka of Nanded district, also succumbed to a lightning strike.
The districts of Nanded, Beed, Latur, Hingoli, Parbhani and Jalna reported traces of rain during the past 24 hours ending one Thursday morning.
The disaster management department has appealed to people, especially from rural areas, to follow dos and don'ts to avoid deaths due to lightning. "Taking shelter under trees or gothas (cattle shelters) is a common mistake. Instead, a fully enclosed shelter is always advisable during cloudy and windy conditions. The same is the advice for livestock," said Latur district disaster management officer Saqueb Osmani.
Officials also said people must avoid forming groups in the open during lightning conditions. "The standing position should be strictly avoided. People should sit or kneel during thunderstorms and lightning strikes," another official said.