MYSURU: Six villagers died and two others were severely injured in a lightning strike near Hunaswadi village in Periyapatna taluk of Mysuru district in Karnataka on Thursday.
A group of eight villagers were taking shelter from the heavy rain in front of a temple in Nandinathapura village when they were struck by lightning. Three of them died on the spot, while three others died in the hospital.
Suvaranama (45), Sujay (18) and Puttana (60) died on the spot, while Sudeep, Umesh and Thimmegowda breathed their last in the hospital.
Police said a few of the victims had been working on a farm and rushed to the temple when it started raining.
Soon after the incident, the injured persons were rushed to the Government Hospital in Periyapatna. According to the police, the injured may be shifted to a hospital in Mysuru if they don't respond to treatment. Police also indicated that the number of fatalities may increase.
A complaint has been registered at Periyapatna police station.