Six Telangana farmers killed, five injured by lightning during heavy rainfall

Six farmers, four of them women, lost their lives and five others sustained severe injuries in three separate lightning strike incidents in Telangana’s Adilabad district on Wednesday. The lightning struck at three different locations in the district as the region witnessed sudden rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms.

The first lightning strike took place in the morning at Bela village; two women working in the fields were killed on spot. Shortly after, a more deadly incident occurred in Pipri village under Gadhiguda mandal, where four people, including two women, died on the spot. Two others in the group suffered serious burn injuries. Later in the afternoon, another lightning strike hit Kummari Tanda, leaving three individuals injured.

All five injured persons from the incidents were rushed to RIMS Hospital in Adilabad. According to the doctors, the condition of two of the victims remains critical.

Preliminary reports suggest that the victims were engaged in agricultural work when the lightning strikes occurred. Most of them were daily wage labourers, with limited shelter or access to safety during harsh weather.

District officials have launched an investigation into the incidents and are coordinating relief measures for the affected families. Local authorities are also working to raise awareness about lightning safety, especially among farm workers who are vulnerable during the monsoon season.

In a similar incident on June 10, four students suffered severe injuries after being struck by lightning near a coconut tree in Hindupuram Town of Sathya Sai district in neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh, amid heavy rains and thunderstorms.

Written by Sneha A Suneeth