Lightning strike and house collapse kills three in Kolhapur and Solapur

Kolhapur: Sudden rain and storms turned deadly across parts of Kolhapur and Solapur, killing a 32-year-old man in a lightning strike and an elderly couple in a house collapse, while causing widespread crop damage.In Kolhapur, 32-year-old Ajit Chougale died on the spot after being struck by lightning during a dinner outing with friends at Jhulpewadi backwaters in Bhudargad taluka on Monday night. The police said Chougale and four friends had gathered outdoors when the weather turned. A lightning strike hit during a sudden downpour, killing Chougale instantly and seriously injuring his friend Rohit More. More was admitted to a private hospital in Gargoti. Two other friends escaped as they had gone to fetch water at the time.In a separate incident in Solapur district, Jagannath Navale (80) and his wife Shalan (75) died after their mud house collapsed in Pomalwadi village of Karmala taluka late on Sunday night. Their death came to light only on Monday.“On Sunday night, suddenly, heavy rain along with gusty winds started in part of the western parts of Karmala taluka, Parewadi, Pomalwadi, Kettur, Gulmoharwadi, Bhagatwadi and Khatgaon villages for over half an hour. Jagannath and Shalan Navle, who lived in a mud house, got trapped under the debris after the wall collapsed upon them. We, along with taluka agriculture officer Rajendra Netke, have carried out a panchanama of the incident spot and also of the other farm losses that occurred in the region,” said Pomalwadi tehsildar Shilpa Thokde.Several acres of farmland were also destroyed in Pandharpur and Karmala taluka in Solapur. The thunderstorms caused extensive damage to sugar cane, banana, pomegranate, mango, chikku and other orchards in the region. Farmers have demanded compensation as authorities begin damage assessment through panchnamas.