18 September,2026 04:28 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | mid-day online correspondent
Two separate lightning strikes in rural parts of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district were reported, officials said. Representational Pic/iStock
Several parts of Maharashtra's Marathwada region received rain after a prolonged dry spell, but the spell also brought tragedy, with five people, including a couple, killed in two separate lightning strikes in rural parts of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, officials said on Friday, reported the PTI.
As many as 31 revenue circles across five districts recorded more than 65 mm of rainfall in a single day on Thursday, according to a report from the Divisional Commissioner's office, the news agency reported.
The highest rainfall of 126 mm was recorded in the Zari revenue circle of Parbhani district.
It was followed by Sirsala in Beed district's Parli tehsil, which recorded 112.5 mm, while Pedgaon in Parbhani received 111.5 mm of rain.
The 31 revenue circles recording more than 65 mm of rainfall were spread across Beed, Latur, Nanded, Parbhani and Hingoli districts.
According to the PTI, in Wahulkheda village in Kannad tehsil of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, three people died after lightning struck a tree under which they had taken shelter from the rain, an official said.
The deceased were identified as Hamida Sayyed (40), Tasleem Sayyed (39) and Almira Sayyed (17). Three others - Hafiz Sayyed (25), Anisa Sayyed (38) and Farzana Sayyed (25) - were injured and were undergoing treatment, as per the PTI.
In another incident at Dahigaon in Sillod tehsil, farmer Manohar Dudhe (60) and his wife Parvatabai died after lightning struck the hut where they had taken shelter from the heavy rain, the PTI reported.
Their son, Pandharinath Dudhe, was injured in the incident and was receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, all eight districts of Marathwada received average rainfall ranging from 5.4 mm to 41.8 mm on Thursday, providing some respite after the prolonged dry spell, as per the PTI.
However, the region continues to face a significant rainfall deficit.
Marathwada receives an average of 679.5 mm of rainfall during the June-September monsoon season. So far, the region has received 423.3 mm, or 62.3 per cent of its expected rainfall, leaving a deficit of 37.3 per cent, according to the report.
(with PTI inputs)
