Lightning strikes and storms claim five lives in Assam

Guwahati: Five people died after being struck by lightning across various districts in Assam over the past three days. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority confirmed the fatalities occurred as the state faces a period of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and high winds. Three individuals died on May 23 in Kokrajhar, Barpeta, and Golaghat, while single deaths were reported in Udalguri and Dibrugarh on May 22 and May 21, respectively. Beyond the human toll, lightning strikes also killed six animals.

Severe storms on Saturday caused significant property damage across several districts, including Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Hojai, Dibrugarh, and Golaghat. Local officials report that approximately 31 villages spread across 11 revenue circles sustained damage to houses and infrastructure. Disaster management teams are currently surveying the affected areas to determine the full extent of the destruction.

The India Meteorological Department has issued ongoing warnings for further thunderstorms and heavy rain in the region. Officials are advising residents to exercise caution and avoid open fields during storms. While the northeast contends with this volatile weather, the rest of the country remains under an intense heatwave. Temperatures have surpassed 40 degrees Celsius in many northern and central states, with the weather department expecting these harsh conditions to continue for at least the next six days.