Lightning, crop loss claim four lives in UP

Agra, March 30 (IANS) Two people were killed by lightning and two others died of shock as unseasonal rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, destroyed standing crops in their fields in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday evening.

Two people died when struck by lightning in Serab village of Pinahat town late Sunday evening. They were identified as Dharmendra and Sri Kishan. Three others sustained burns, and were admitted to a hospital.

In Firozabad district, farmer Hari Singh reportedly died of shock after the crop damage, but police said he died because of tension prevailing at home.

Another farmer, Raghuvir (63), collapsed and died on Sunday morning, unable to bear the loss to his standing crops in Bajna village.

The weather changed abruptly in western Uttar Pradesh on Sunday evening as unseasonal rain, accompanied by lightning and thunder, lashed parts of the state, destroying standing crops in fields.

Temperatures fell sharply as gusty winds with showers hit Braj region. In Mathura district, wheat, potato and mustard crops were destroyed, ruining hundreds of farmers.

In March, the area had received more than 80 mm of rainfall, which caused considerable damage to crops.

The affected farmers are yet to get compensation for the damage caused by untimely mid-March rain.

Farmers in Etah, Mainpuri, Firozabad are still waiting for the field survey which would take stock of the damage. In Agra, so far, Rs.1.75 crore has been disbursed as compensation against the demand for Rs.12 crore.