In a shocking incident during Navratri festivities, lightning struck a group of people in Lalpur village, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh, injuring eight—including women and a young girl—on September 30.
The victims were gathered in an open area near a temple, performing traditional puja rituals, when the bolt hit. Chaos erupted as screams filled the air after a loud thunderclap, witnesses said. Villagers quickly rushed to help and called for emergency aid.
Police official Premlal Kurve, additional superintendent for rural areas, told reporters that the group was simply celebrating the festival when disaster struck. All eight made it to Majhgawan Hospital for urgent care. One woman remains in critical condition and got transferred to the district hospital for better treatment, while the others, including the child, are stable at a local community health center. Officials haven’t confirmed any life-threatening injuries yet.
This lightning strike in Madhya Pradesh highlights the dangers of outdoor gatherings during stormy weather, especially with Navratri drawing big crowds for religious events. Police and medical teams responded fast, coordinating rescues and getting everyone medical attention.
Authorities now warn everyone to stay indoors during thunderstorms and check weather updates. “Follow IMD advisories closely, particularly in the coming days of Navratri,” they urged.
The incident fits a larger pattern of extreme weather in central India. Moisture from easterly winds out of the Bay of Bengal has made the atmosphere unstable in Madhya Pradesh. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued alerts for isolated thunderstorms and lightning in districts like Satna, Rewa, Sidhi, and Shahdol.
Tuesday brought scattered rains, strong gusts, and more lightning flashes across parts of the state. Daytime highs stayed around 32-34°C with sticky high humidity fueling the instability. IMD predicts the same risky conditions for the next 48 hours, so skip outdoor plans if storms brew.
Lightning injuries and deaths have spiked in India lately, experts blame climate change for wilder weather and say more public awareness could save lives. Local leaders promise tighter safety measures for the rest of Navratri to avoid more tragedies like this one.
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