Eight people, six of them children, were killed and one seriously injured when lightning struck a place where all of them had taken shelter under a shed during heavy rainfall in Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh on Monday. They were returning after an exam. All are Class 11 students, said District Collector Sanjay Aggrawal.

It struck the shed, killing eight people on the spot, including the six students. The Superintendent of Police of Rajnandgaon, Mohit Garg, confirmed the incident and said, “According to preliminary information, eight people, including some school children, were killed in the lightning strike. Other than those killed, one was reportedly injured and admitted to a hospital.”

Within a very short period of the incident, the state government announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh to the family members of each victim. Compensation to the injured will be decided under the official norms. After the accident, the senior government officials and the police forces reached the spot and took stock of the situation, providing further assistance as needed.

Precautions During Storms
The tragic incident brought into the minds of one and all the significance of proper safety measures in times of thunderstorms. It’s the most dangerous condition of living while dwelling in lightning-prone areas – sleeping or taking shelter under the trees or sheds. The administration has warned people to sleep indoors or inside secure structures while such weather conditions persist.

The community in the Rajnandgaon district finds some consolation in the assurance of further investigations as well as support for the affected families while the tragic loss of young lives continues to bring tears from everyone’s eyes.