Raipur: Five people were killed and two women among five seriously injured in lightning strikes across Bemetara, Balod, Dhamtari and Kanker districts as thunderstorms swept through Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, even as an intensifying weather system over the Bay of Bengal raised the prospect of another spell of heavy rain, squalls and lightning across the state.




The India Meteorological Department has warned of extremely heavy rain along with thunderstorms, lightning and squalls in Chhattisgarh and very heavy rain on Sept 25 and 26.




The biggest toll was reported from Bemetara district, where two migrant labourers from West Bengal were found dead beneath a banyan tree near a pond in Berla region.




The deceased were identified as Manoj Rajvanshi and Jagdish Rajvanshi. They were employed on tower installation work at Surholi.




Police said the two had left on a bike around 1 pm to get snacks from Kusmi when heavy rain and thunderstorms hit the area. They apparently took shelter beneath the tree, where lightning struck. Both were later found dead near the pond.




In Balod district, 40-year-old Anusuiya Bai died after lightning struck while she and two other women were working in a field at Pathratola village.




Anusuiya died at the spot, while the two other women suffered serious injuries and were taken for treatment.




A fourth death was reported from Gudfel village in Durgukondal block of Kanker district.




Farmer Ramsingh Mandavi (52) had gone to work in his field when rain and thunder intensified, he took shelter under a jamun tree. Lightning struck close to the tree, killing him.




In Dhamtari district, a young man was killed and three others injured after being struck by lightning during heavy rain and strong winds. Girja Shankar Dhruv died on the spot, while Jitendra Sinha, Poshan Dhruv and Bhupesh Dhruv sustained injuries.




The deaths came as large parts of Chhattisgarh experienced abrupt changes in weather, with thunderstorms and intense spells of rain reported in several districts. Raipur too witnessed thunder and heavy rain after the weather changed sharply during the afternoon.




IMD forecasts for Balod and Bemetara showed continued chances of moderate rain or thunderstorms through the next few days, while Jagdalpur was forecast to experience repeated spells of rain or thundershowers with lightning.




The worsening conditions have also begun disrupting normal life in Bastar.




With heavy rain and lightning forecast, the Bastar administration declared a holiday on Thursday for all govt, private and aided schools in the district, citing student safety.




Quarterly examinations scheduled for the day have also been postponed.




According to the district education department’s order, the Thursday examination will now be conducted on the next school working day after the quarterly examination schedule concludes.




Bad weather also affected air connectivity, with the Jagdalpur-Hyderabad flight cancelled.




Authorities have advised people to avoid open fields, isolated trees and exposed areas during thunderstorms — particularly significant in the latest fatalities, where victims were either working outdoors or had sought shelter beneath trees.




People in low-lying areas have also been asked to remain alert to waterlogging and rising levels in streams and drains as the active weather spell continues.