Two advocates were killed and another person injured after a dome-shaped shelter at Guru Gorakhnath Ghat on the banks of the Rapti river collapsed on Sunday afternoon after being struck by lightning, officials said.
According to officials, the incident occurred around noon when people had gathered under the dome during heavy rain. The victims were at the ghat to attend the last rites of a colleague’s mother. A preliminary inquiry suggested that lightning struck the structure shortly before the collapse.
The deceased were identified as Alok Asthana, 46, a Rapti Nagar resident, and Sanjay Singh, 47. Asthana died while being shifted from the district hospital to Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College. Singh, who had sustained serious injuries and was undergoing treatment at BRD Medical College, died later, officials said.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced ₹4 lakh ex gratia for Asthana’s bereaved family, with additional assistance from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
The incident triggered protests by lawyers over an alleged delay in arranging an ambulance and providing timely treatment. District magistrate Deepak Meena ordered an inquiry into the allegations and a technical inspection of the structure.
“If any negligence is found, action will be taken against those responsible,” Meena said.
Police registered an FIR under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the CMO and five health department employees following a complaint by Asthana’s wife, officials said.
