11 people killed by lightning strike while taking selfies in India

Eleven people have been killed by a lightning strike as they were taking pictures at a tourist attraction in northern India.

The victims were snapping selfies in the rain on the top of the 12th Century Amber Fort watchtower in Jaipur when they were hit by the devastating bolt on Sunday.

A senior police officer told local media that most of the group were young.

On Monday, officials confirmed that at least 38 people had been killed by lightning across two Indian states over the preceding 24 hours.

Along with the 11 watchtower victims, at least nine more people were killed and nearly 20 others were injured in separate strikes when the state of Rajasthan was lashed with thunderstorms and monsoon rains.

In Uttar Pradesh, 18 people were killed by lightning on Sunday, a government official confirmed. Most of those killed were farm laborers working in fields.

Both state governments announced financial compensation for the families of the victims and those who were injured.

The Indian Meteorological Department has warned of more lightning in the next two days.

Lightning strikes are common during India’s monsoon season, which runs from June to September.

More than 2,900 people were killed by lightning in India in 2019, according to the most recent official figures available.