Three killed, four injured as lightning strikes during grave digging in Hangu

Three people were killed and four others injured when lightning struck a group of villagers digging a grave in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Hangu district, police and local sources said on Thursday.

The incident occurred in the Merobak area within the jurisdiction of Kalaya Police Station, where several people had gathered to prepare a grave when the lightning strike hit the site.

According to local officials, three people died on the spot as a result of the strike, while four others sustained injuries.

Rescue teams and local residents rushed to the scene and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Hospital sources said the injured were receiving treatment, while the condition of some victims was being monitored.

The sudden incident triggered panic in the area, with residents gathering at the scene following the lightning strike.

Authorities are collecting further details about the victims, while local residents expressed grief over the loss of life in the tragic incident.

Lightning-related incidents are not uncommon during periods of unstable weather in various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in mountainous and rural areas. Officials have advised residents to take precautionary measures during thunderstorms and severe weather conditions.