A tragic incident occurred in Uttar Pradesh's Chandauli district on Saturday when a 12-year-old girl and a 35-year-old woman lost their lives after being struck by lightning during a sudden storm. The incident plunged the village into mourning and highlighted the dangers posed by severe weather conditions during the monsoon season.
According to officials, strong winds, thunderstorms, and adverse weather conditions swept through Chandauli and surrounding areas on Saturday afternoon. The sudden change in weather caught many residents off guard as dark clouds gathered and storm activity intensified across the region.
Amid the unstable weather, Ruby, a 12-year-old girl, and Laxmi, a 35-year-old woman, both residents of Dhanawal village in the Chakia Kotwali area, had reportedly gone to a nearby orchard to collect mangoes. Like many villagers during the mango season, they had ventured into the orchard unaware of the imminent danger posed by the approaching storm.
As the storm intensified, lightning struck the orchard where the two were present. The powerful strike caused fatal injuries to both victims. According to local reports, they died instantly at the scene before any medical assistance could reach them.
The sudden deaths sent shockwaves through the village, with family members and residents gathering at the location soon after the incident. The tragic loss of a young girl and a woman from the same village created an atmosphere of grief and distress among local residents.
After receiving information about the incident, police officials rushed to the spot and initiated the required legal procedures. The bodies were taken into custody and later sent for post-mortem examination to complete formalities related to the case.
District administration officials also visited the village following the incident to assess the situation and interact with the affected families. Authorities reviewed the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and assured villagers that necessary assistance would be provided in accordance with government guidelines.
Chakia Sub-Divisional Magistrate Pankaj Yadav confirmed that both deaths were caused by a lightning strike during the storm. He stated that the administration had begun the necessary procedures required under disaster relief provisions and that compensation would be provided to the families of the deceased.
Officials explained that financial assistance is available in cases involving deaths caused by natural calamities such as lightning strikes. The administration has initiated the documentation process so that the families can receive the relief amount at the earliest.
The incident serves as another reminder of the risks associated with thunderstorms and lightning, particularly in rural areas where people often work outdoors or seek shelter under trees during sudden weather changes. Experts frequently advise people to avoid open fields, orchards, and isolated trees during thunderstorms, as such locations can become highly vulnerable to lightning strikes.
For the residents of Dhanawal village, however, the focus remains on mourning the loss of Ruby and Laxmi. Their sudden deaths have left their families devastated and the entire community grieving. As administrative formalities continue and compensation procedures move forward, the village is struggling to come to terms with a tragedy that unfolded within moments during an unexpected storm.
