Kolkata: Eight persons, including four boys, were killed by lightning during an afternoon Norwester, which struck southern parts of the state with a heavy shower and thunderstorm on Sunday.
The four boys died at Uluberia in Howrah. A group of five boys had gone to a mango orchard to collect the fruit during the heavy thunderstorm at Bardanga Damodarpur village.
They were, however, hit by lightning which left them fatally injured. Sheikh Mahroof (11), Sheikh Sirajul (12), Sheikh Manzoor (10) and Sheikh Ashique (11) were rushed to Uluberia Subdivision Hospital where they were declared brought dead.
Along with them was Sheikh Alamgir who survived with injuries.
Besides, two persons of the same family were killed at Ghatal of West Midnapore, while they were ploughing the field.
The uncle-nephew duo were struck by lightning. Their bodies were recovered later by the villagers. At Hanskhali in Nadia, another person died. Bhajahari Mondal, the victim, was farming at the field in Dulalpur. He was also hit by lightning.
Mondal was delcared brought dead at a nearby hospital. In Kolkata, a youth was electrocuted.
Mohammed Shabbir (35), the victim, was originally from Chapra in Bihar.
At around 4.30 pm, he went to lift the shutter of a shoe godown at Motisil Street in New Market where he worked. Shabbir came in contact with a live wire.
He was declared brought dead at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital.
Meanwhile, traffic was disrupted at Santoshpur Avenue in Survey Park area after a large tree got uprooted due to the storm and it fell on the road snapping electricity wire.
The Disaster Management Group personnel were pressed into service.
Lightening also struck a three-storyed building at D. Gupta Lane in Sinthee of north Kolkata. There was no casualty.
