Eleven people who were taking selfies have been killed and many more left injured after lightning struck a historic fort in India on Sunday.
As many as 30 people were on the towers of the 12th-century Amer Fort in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan when the lightning strikes occurred. Eleven people were killed while another 17 were injured, with three in critical condition, according to police.
The fort, which gives a panoramic view across Jaipur, was packed with tourists on Sunday. When the lightning struck near Amer Fort, people were said to be taking selfies close to the watchtower, while some jumped to the ground after the strike, according to local media reports.
Senior Jaipur police officer Saurabh Tiwari said: “It was already raining when the people were there. They huddled in the towers as the rainfall intensified. Some of the injured were left unconscious by the strikes. Others ran out in panic and extreme pain.”
Hundreds of people in India are killed each year in thunderstorms at the start of the monsoon season, which bring respite from the summer heat across the northern Indian plains.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said special payments would be made to the families of people who lost their lives, as he offered condolences.
The office of the Prime Minister tweeted: “The Prime Minister was briefed about the loss of lives and damages due to lightning in parts of Uttar Pradesh. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 would be given to the injured.”
There have been warnings of more lightning in the next two days from the India Meteorological Department.
