Beed, Apr 1 (PTI) Two farmers were killed after being struck by lightning in separate incidents during a sudden spell of unseasonal rains and thunderstorms in parts of Maharashtra’s Beed district, police said on Wednesday.
One of them, Vasant Ramrao Raut, a resident of Pali village under Beed tehsil, was killed in a lightning strike at around 5.30 pm on Wednesday when he was working in his agricultural field, police officials said.
The 63-year-old died on the spot amid intense thunder and rainfall, they said.
In another incident, a 37-year-old farmer, Balaji Baburao Chavan, was killed after being hit by lightning in Parli Vaijnath tehsil of the central Maharashtra district, police said.
Chavan was working in his agriculture field and took refuge under a tree to escape the untimely showers in the Sabadrabad area. Moments later, a massive bolt of lightning struck the tree, killing him instantly on Monday night, they said.
In a separate incident in Kaudgaon Huda village under Parli Vaijnath tehsil, another farmer, Dhanraj Ashroba Phapal, lost his bull in a lightning strike. Another bull was killed in lightning at Kherda (Budruk) village in Georai tehsil, police stated.
The sudden bout of unseasonal rains has caused widespread distress among farmers as standing crops nearing harvest have reportedly suffered heavy damage. The district has been witnessing intermittent unseasonal showers for the past eight days, raising concerns within the farming community.
According to reports, widespread showers accompanied by thunder and lightning lashed several parts of Beed district on Wednesday afternoon. These included areas like Georai, Kaij, Majalgaon, Wadwani, Dharur, Parli Vaijnath, Ambajogai and Shirur Kasar.
Hailstorms have reportedly damaged mango, watermelon and papaya orchards, along with rabi crops in several areas. PTI COR RSY
Category: Breaking News
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