MITHI: At least 20 people, including women and children, died when lightning struck parts of Tharparkar and Sanghar districts during wide-spread rains late on Wednesday night.

Rural areas of Mithi, as well as Chhachhi near Islamkot town, Ram Singh Sodho village near Diplo town and several other villages of Tharparkar district, were hit by lightning. A number of thatched houses caught fire.

Unofficial figures put the number of deaths at 23 as reports of lightning and casualties were still coming in when this report was filed at around Thursday midnight.

Four of the casualties occurred in Sanghar district.

According to reports from various hospitals and small healthcare centres in Thar district, 40 persons were admitted for treatment of burns they had suffered due to lightning and fire. Hundreds of animals are also said to have perished due to lightning strike and fire.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2019