Three persons died and several others, including army personnel, were injured in separate lightning incidents in Chitwan, Myagdi and Dadeldhura districts Thursday.

With this, the number of people who have died in lightning incidents has risen to eight this week.

Tika Lamichhane and Parvati Lamichhane of Pithuwa-9 in eastern Chitwan were seriously injured when lightning struck them while working in their field yesterday afternoon. They later died while receiving treatment at Bharatpur Medical College the same day, according to Chitwan District Police.

Similarly, Patali Devi died instantly when lightning struck her while she was at home in Darbang 5 of Myagdhi district Thursday afternoon.

According to reports, Narima, Janmaya, Yamsara Roka and an unnamed four-year-old-all members of one family-were also injured in the incident. The injured were carried in a doko to a public health post situated at the district headquarters.

In another report, five soldiers  were injured after being hit by a thunder bolt in Dandeldhura district Thursday.

They are currently receiving medical care at a hospital in the far-West district.

Reports from Jhapa said that a Bhutanese refugee, who became unconscious during lightning on Friday morning at 12:30 a.m., died while he was being taken to AMDA Hospital.

According to Beldangi camp-based Armed Police Force (APF) Inspector Brijesh Rimal, the deceased has been identified as Gopi Karki, 45, from Beldangi-II Extension camp.

Karki had just came out of his hut to maintain leakage of his roof when he fell unconscious due to lightnining, added the Inspector.

Three persons were killed when lightning struck them in Morang and Saptari districts on Tuesday. On Wednesday lightning killed one person and injured another at Gadi VDC in Makwanpur.

Meanwhile, at least 40 persons were hurt after lightning struck them at Phulpingkot VDC-5 in Sindhupalchowk district on Thursday night.

Jhalak Bhandari, a teacher, told RSS the lightning also destroyed two houses belonging to Tok Bahadur Basnet and Gyan Bahadur Karki of the same VDC.

Thirty-nine women and a man fell unconscious after the lightning struck them. Of the injured, four have been admitted to a hospital at Jalbire VDC further treatment.

As many as 20 houses in the VDC have suffered slight damage due to the lightning, said Bhandari. nepalnews.com