Heavy rain, lightning claim 17 lives in UP

LUCKNOW: Natural calamities, including heavy rain and lightning, claimed 17 lives in UP on Sunday. Hardoi witnessed the most casualties and damage where three persons died after being struck by lightning and 11 were injured.
An official in the disaster management department said that lightning claimed two lives in Sitapur, two in Jalaun and one in Badayun. Six others were injured in the process. Meanwhile, heavy rain in the region also took lives with six people dying after they either drowned or were hit by falling trees.In Balrampur, two persons died after they got caught in a drain during heavy rain. One person in Fatehpur died after a tree fell on him.
Where one person in Unnao died after being bitten by a snake, two more lost their lives in Ghazipur due to drowning. One person was injured in Moradabad after coming in contact with a live wire.
The government has directed district magistrates of the affected regions to ensure timely relief to the families of those injured or deceased.