No fewer than eighteen people were reportedly killed in lightning strikes across western India’s Gujarat State during unseasonably intense storms on Sunday.
The country’s official said such big rainstorms are not expected in Gujarat during winter months, and fierce downpours caught many off guard.
While flash floods and lightning kill dozens of people in India each year, scientists warn that rising global temperatures are unleashing a cascade of extreme weather events.
“At least 20 people were killed during the heavy rains, with 18 of them due to lightning”, Gujarat State authorities said in a statement late Sunday.
The authorities added that about forty animals were also killed.
Home minister, Amit Shah said he was “deeply saddened” by the incident in a post on X platform, formally twitter.
Crediblenews.ng
