Beed: A 63-year-old farmer died after being struck by lightning during unseasonal rain, hailstorms, and strong winds in Pali village of Beed tehsil on Wednesday evening. The incident has added to the distress faced by farmers in the region due to continuous weather fluctuations.
The deceased has been identified as Vasant Ramrao Raut, a resident of Pali village located around 10 km from Beed town. According to police, the incident took place at around 5:30 pm when Raut was working in his agricultural field.
Officials said lightning struck him during intense rainfall and thunder, leading to his death on the spot. Local residents rushed to help, but he could not be saved.
After receiving information, Beed Rural Police reached the spot and conducted a panchnama. The body was later sent to Beed Civil Hospital for post-mortem examination.
The incident has cast a shadow of grief over Pali village, with residents mourning the sudden loss. Family members and villagers described Raut as a hard-working farmer.
Meanwhile, the unseasonal weather has caused widespread damage across the district. Farmers are facing heavy losses as crops nearing harvest have been affected. The district has witnessed intermittent rain for the past eight days.
Reports suggest that hailstorms have damaged mango, watermelon, and papaya orchards, along with rabi crops in several areas. Strong winds have also uprooted trees in some parts.
Farmers have expressed concern over mounting losses and are seeking assistance from the administration as unpredictable weather continues to impact agriculture.
