Two farmers were killed after being struck by lightning in the Vijithapura area on Monday evening following heavy rain, Ipalogama police said.
The men, aged 50 and 49, were residents of Vijithapura in the North Central Province. Initial investigations cited by Lankadeepa indicate the victims were working in their paddy fields in the Kanakkanmadugama and Puliyankulama areas when the lightning struck.
The body of one victim has been placed at his residence; the other is being held at Kalawawa Hospital pending post-mortem. Ipalogama Police are conducting further investigations.
The deaths follow the Department of Meteorology’s red alert for severe lightning across 16 districts issued earlier on Monday, with strikes likely in the morning and evening hours over the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North Western, Central, Uva, North Central and Eastern provinces.
The incident is the second confirmed lightning fatality this week, following the death of a woman in Wellawaya, Handapanagala. Repeated alerts have been issued through April as convective storms have intensified across the country, with the Department’s lightning advisories warning farmers, fishermen and outdoor workers to take cover during evening rain hours.
