18 persons are killed by lightning strikes in India.

During exceptionally strong storms on Sunday, at least eighteen people were killed by lightning strikes in the state of Gujarat in western India, according to officials.

Gujarat does not typically get such large rainstorms in the winter; therefore, many people were unprepared for the intense downpours.

Scientists warn that a series of catastrophic weather events are being unleashed by rising global temperatures, even though flash floods and lightning kill scores of people in India annually.

Gujarat state authorities announced in a statement late on Sunday that at least 20 people were killed during the intense rains, with lightning being responsible for at least 18 of the deaths.

Additionally, at least 40 animals perished.

The home minister, Amit Shah, expressed his “deep sadness” over the killings in a post on X (formerly Twitter).