1 killed, 24 injured as lightning strikes Gurupadgiri Hill in Bihar’s Gaya: Police
One devotee was killed and 24 injured, four critically, after lightning struck two spots at Gurupadgiri Hill in Bihar’s Gaya during Raksha Bandhan.
A tragic incident unfolded on Gurupadgiri Hill in Bihar’s Gaya district on Saturday evening, leaving one devotee dead and 24 others injured, including four critically. The victims were attending the festival of Raksha Bandhan, which drew over 3,000 people to the historic Buddhist and Hindu site. As the weather shifted to rain and thunder, lightning struck two locations on the hill – the temple complex at the summit and a narrow cave near the Andheria-Dhandheria area.
Vikas Kumar, a 24-year-old resident of Chhatisa village, was among those struck, resulting in his death. Three others were injured at the temple campus, while 21 people suffered burns near the cave. Rescuers, including Block Development Officer Shashi Bhushan Sahu and SHO Shivnanadan Kumar, trekked up a steep 1,680-step staircase to reach the site.
Human chains were formed to transport the injured down the mountain, which has rugged, steep terrain, and hazardous weather conditions. The victims ranged in age from 10-year-old children to 55-year-old adults. Over 3,000 people had been gathered on the hill for the festival when the weather turned. The injured were transported to the nearest Community Health Centre at Fatehpur, with critically ill patients later sent to Magadh Medical College and Hospital in Gaya. The remaining injured were treated at the CHC and discharged once their conditions improved.
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