Jharkhand appealed central government to include lightning strikes as a natural calamity
Ranchi, Aug 28 (IANS) Nine people were killed and over a dozen were injured when a lightning struck a tree under which they were standing in Jharkhand Thursday, the police said. The incident took place near Mavesi Ghat of Hiranpur village in Pakur district, some 500 km from here, during an animal fare. Hundreds of people had gathered in the fare.
Over two dozen villagers had taken shelter from heavy rainfall under a tree, when the lightning struck. Five people died on the spot and 15 others were injured, the police said. Four people died later in a hospital.
This year lightning strikes have claimed over 40 lives in the state. In 2007, the total number of deaths due to lightning was 68.
According to an official of the disaster management department of Jharkhand, Rs.100,000 will be paid be the families of those who have died due to lightning.
Ranchi, Aug 1 (IANS) The bolt from the blue has the Jharkhand government worried. The fact that 50 to 60 people die from lightning strikes each year has made the state government urge the central government to classify death by lightning as a natural calamity.
In 2007, 68 people lost their lives to lightning strikes and this year's toll already stands at over 30.
The Jharkhand High Court had taken up the issue last year, directing the state government to ensure lightning conductors were installed atop all high-rise buildings and schools. In 2007, six children of a government school had died due to a lightning strike.
The state government also has to pay compensation of Rs.100,000 each to the families of the victims, according to an official of the disaster management department.
'At present the state government pays the entire compensation amount. We have written to the central government to include lightning strikes as a natural calamity. If that happens, the state will get funds under the Natural Calamity Contingency Fund and the Calamity Relief Fund,' an official of Jharkhand's disaster management department told.
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