Palamu district has been struck by tragedy as lightning strikes claimed the lives of four people in the Panki and Patan blocks. The incidents resulted in the death of three women in Panki and a young man in Patan. The local communities are now in mourning.
In Jolhabigha village, which falls under the Kekergarh Panchayat of Panki block, a family was struck by tragedy when lightning struck while they were engaged in paddy planting. Okida Khatoon (34), Rashmi Bibi (35), and Rajvi Bibi (40) were killed in the incident. Rajvi Bibi was visiting from her maternal home to assist with the rice planting.
A separate incident in Nawadih Bhurwa village, within the Patan police station area, claimed the life of Niranjan Mehta (32). The young man was killed instantly by a lightning strike while he was carrying paddy saplings in a field. Niranjan leaves behind two young children, including a daughter aged one and a half. The entire village is reeling from the devastating loss.
In a third incident, Pushpa Devi, the wife of Sarpanch Vinayak Saw of Pathakpagar Panchayat in Tarhasi block, survived a lightning strike. However, four of her goats perished. The goats had sought shelter under a mahua tree during a rainstorm, with Pushpa present until shortly before the lightning struck the tree. The estimated financial loss from the goats’ deaths is 80,000 rupees.