1 killed, 24 injured as lightning strikes Gurupadgiri Hill in Bihar’s Gaya: Police

Lightning strikes at Gurupadgiri Hill in Gaya, Bihar, kill one and injure 24 during Raksha Bandhan celebrations.

Gaya, Bihar – A tragic incident marred Raksha Bandhan celebrations on Saturday evening as lightning struck two locations on Gurupadgiri Hill, a historic site revered by both Buddhists and Hindus. The incident left one person dead and 24 injured, including four in critical condition.

More than 3,000 devotees had gathered at the hilltop temple complex, a popular pilgrimage destination in Gaya district, when sudden thunderstorms rolled in. Lightning struck the temple campus at the summit and an area near the narrow Andheria-Dhandheria cave, where many had taken shelter under trees, according to police reports.

Vikas Kumar alias Niwas, a 24-year-old resident of Chhatisa village, died after being struck by lightning at the temple complex. Three others suffered injuries in the same strike, while 21 people sustained burn injuries near the cave. The injured ranged in age from 10-year-old children to 55-year-old adults.

Rescue efforts were complicated by heavy rain and the hill’s rugged, steep terrain, which features 1,680 steps as the only access route. Block Development Officer Shashi Bhushan Sahu and Station House Officer Shivnanadan Kumar arrived at the scene, located approximately 2,500 feet above ground level. Local police and volunteers formed a human chain to safely transport the injured down the hill.

The 24 injured individuals were taken to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Fatehpur. Doctors there referred four critically injured people—Rupa Kumari, Suresh Manjhi, Sanjay Paswan, and Subham Kumar—to Magadh Medical College and Hospital in Gaya. The remaining injured were treated at the CHC and discharged after their conditions stabilized, according to Dr. Ashok Kumar, the CHC in-charge.

Authorities have urged pilgrims to avoid open areas and tall structures during thunderstorms, especially at elevated sites like Gurupadgiri Hill.

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