Daijiworld Media Network - Bilaspur

Bilaspur, Oct 8: Three men were killed in two separate lightning strike incidents in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district on Wednesday evening, police said.

The incidents occurred in the Kota area when the victims were engaged in agricultural work, Sub-Divisional Officer of Police Nupur Upadhyay said.

Lakhotana residents Manna Yadav, 41, and his relative Kunjaram Yadav, 45, of Nawadih in Belgahna, were working in a field when the weather suddenly changed around 6 pm, bringing heavy rain and strong winds.

The two men were struck by lightning and were rushed by local residents to a community health centre, where doctors declared them dead.

In another incident, 45-year-old farmer Jageshwar Jagat of Manpur village had gone to a field to repair its boundary ridge when heavy rain began. He took shelter under a tree, which was struck by lightning.

Jagat suffered severe burns and was taken to a hospital, where he died during treatment, police said.

The bodies will be handed over to the families after post-mortem examinations. Kota police have registered cases of accidental death in connection with the incidents.