Lightning Strike in Bihar’s Khagaria Kills Three, Including Child

Three people, including a father and his 10-year-old son , were killed after being struck by lightning in Bihar’s Khagaria district on Thursday morning, police said. The incident has once again highlighted the recurring risk of lightning-related fatalities in rural India during the monsoon season.

According to officials, the incident occurred around 8 am in Kanhauli village under the Paura police station area. The victims Vidyanand Yadav (55), Ashutosh Yadav (32), and Ashutosh’s son Ankesh Kumar (10) were reportedly taking shelter in a small hut beneath a tree near the Dukharan Baba religious site when lightning struck the area.

Khagaria Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kumar confirmed the deaths and said that the bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination . “Further legal proceedings are underway,” he added.

Preliminary accounts suggest the victims were trying to avoid rainfall when the lightning strike occurred. Experts note that taking shelter under trees or open structures during thunderstorms significantly increases the risk, as lightning tends to strike the tallest and most conductive objects in an area.

Such incidents are not uncommon in Bihar and several eastern and central Indian states, which regularly report high numbers of lightning-related deaths during monsoon months . Sudden weather shifts, lack of safe shelter, and limited awareness of lightning safety measures are key contributing factors.

Authorities have repeatedly advised people to avoid open fields, isolated trees, and temporary shelters during thunderstorms and to move into proper enclosed buildings at the first sign of lightning activity.