Budding basketball player killed in thunderstorm

Varanasi: Saturday night thunderstorm caused large scale damages especially in the city outskirts and also in adjoining districts.
A budding basketball player was killed when branch of a tree fell on her while a woman lost her life after suffering grave injuries after her mud house collapsed during storm on Saturday night. Many animals also lost their lives due to lightening in Chandauli district while some building structures were also damaged in Jaunpur.
According to reports, Anushka Patel, a native of Holapur village under the limits of Shivpur police station area, had gone to her orchard to collect fruits when she fell down on ground during thunderstorm on Saturday night.In the meantime, a tree branch fell on her causing serious head injuries. Her family members and neighbours rushed her to the district hospital but she died on the way. She was an emerging basketball player and had played for Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth team in All India Inter University tournament this year.
Meanwhile, in Hariharpur village of Shivpur area Sudama, wife of Phoolchand Kanojia, was buried under the debris after their mud house collapsed. Locals rescued her and rushed her to Trauma Centre where she died during the course of treatment on Sunday. Police have sent the body for postmortem.
Three mud houses in Koirajpur area of Badagaon also collapsed after trees uprooted during the storm fell on them during thunderstorm. Three minors were injured in the incident while three goats were killed after getting buried under the debris.
The thunderstorm followed by heavy showers also caused huge loss to horticulturists as mango crop was damaged at a large scale. Besides, power supplies in most parts of the district also remained disrupted till late night.
District magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said that teams of officials and revenue department have been engaged for assessment of the loss of life, property and crops. The teams will submit their reports on Monday after which all possible help will be extended to the affected people.
In neighbouring districts, three buffalo and a calf were struck by lightening in Karvandia village of Chakia area in Chandauli district. The dome of a temple was also damaged due to lightening in Ahmadpur area under Jafrabad police station in Jaunpur district. At the time of the incident several villagers were sitting there and were injured after they came under its debris.