Unseasonal downpours brought deadly lightning to Chatra, Jharkhand, resulting in three women’s deaths in Pathalgada block on Friday. The back-to-back strikes have cast a pall of grief over the district, with one man losing both wives in a heartbreaking twist.
Sanjay Bhuiyan from Jehera village in Meral panchayat faced unimaginable loss when lightning hit his courtyard. His two wives, sisters Poonam Devi and Kalyani Devi, were performing daily tasks there. The bolt struck amid loud thunder, ending their lives on the spot. The village is reeling from this rare and sorrowful event.
In a nearby Singhani village incident, Shama Parveen died while picking mahua flowers with relatives near Bandarchumma Pahi home. Jaibun Nisha, 50, and a young girl of 10 suffered grievous injuries from the strike and are battling for life in hospital. Occurring right before Eid festivities, the mishap has shattered family joys.
Pathalgada officials and police responded quickly, securing the scenes and initiating formalities. Families demand urgent ex-gratia payments, which administrators promise via disaster funds. This serves as a grim reminder of lightning’s lethal power during erratic monsoons, urging better awareness and safety measures in vulnerable areas.