West Bengal: Thunderstorm, lightning kills nine

At least nine persons were declared dead with reports of at least 12 injured due to incidents of lightning strike and wall collapse because of heavy rainfall since Thursday evening, a state disaster management department official said on Friday.

While four persons died due to lightning strikes in Hooghly district, one from Birbhum died the same way, he said.

Meanwhile, one death was reported from Purba Burdwan district’s Katwa and Mangalkote due to wall collapse.

Earlier on Thursday, lightning caused the deaths of one person each in Howrah and South 24 Parganas district, the official said.

"The injured are undergoing treatment at various hospitals," he said.