Raipur, June 13: A tragic incident occurred in Kalgaon village, located in the Antagarh block of Kanker district, during a sudden downpour on Friday. A lightning strike hit a group of people seeking shelter under a tree, resulting in the deaths of a deputy sarpanch and two other villagers, while five others sustained injuries.
The deceased have been identified as Manraj Patel, the deputy sarpanch of Kalgaon, along with Santosh Patel and Prakash Patel. Officials from the Antagarh police station reported that among the injured, five are women, with one being referred to Kanker for advanced medical treatment.
Approximately 50 to 60 laborers had gathered in Kalgaon to work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. They were engaged in deepening a pond when the weather suddenly turned stormy, leading to heavy rainfall.
In an attempt to escape the downpour, the group took refuge under a nearby tree. Moments later, a powerful lightning bolt struck the tree, resulting in the immediate deaths of three individuals and injuries to five others.
Villagers recounted the horrifying sequence of events, expressing their shock at how the workers were caught off guard by the abrupt change in weather. Prior to the incident, MGNREGA work was proceeding normally.
The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem as per standard procedures. Local authorities are expected to review safety protocols at MGNREGA work sites to prevent such incidents in the future.
The village is in mourning, with efforts underway to provide necessary support to the grieving families and ensure proper medical care for the injured. As the monsoon season arrives, various parts of central India are experiencing thunderstorms and winds reaching speeds of up to 70 km/h.
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