Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Lightning Strikes Kill Mahout and Homemaker in Jalpaiguri District
Two people died after lightning struck different places in Jalpaiguri district on Wednesday.
Arjun Oraon was a mahout who worked with elephants in Gorumara National Park.
Lightning hit him while he was going to bring the elephants back.
Doctors later declared him dead at a rural hospital.
Ratna Roy was collecting cattle from a field when another lightning strike hit her.
She died at the scene.
Dipali Roy was with her and was injured.
Dipali is being treated at Dhupguri sub-divisional hospital.
Arjun Oraon, a 45-year-old mahout, died after lightning struck him in Gorumara National Park.
Oraon was taking domesticated elephants to the forest when the lightning strike occurred.
Ratna Roy, 45, died while collecting cattle from a field in Dhupguri block.
Dipali Roy, who accompanied Ratna, was injured and is receiving hospital treatment.
Oraon’s body was sent for post-mortem, while the forest department pledged support to his family.
- Who
- Arjun Oraon, a mahout, and Ratna Roy, a homemaker, died; Dipali Roy was injured.
- What
- Lightning strikes at two locations killed Oraon and Ratna and injured Dipali.
- When
- Wednesday; Ratna’s accident occurred at about 3pm.
- Where
- Gorumara National Park and a field near Golap Munshi More in Dhupguri block, Jalpaiguri district.
- Why
- The deaths and injury resulted from lightning strikes during separate outdoor activities.
- Deaths
- Two people died: Arjun Oraon and Ratna Roy.
- Injury
- Dipali Roy was injured and is receiving treatment.
- Oraon’s age and work
- Oraon was 45 and worked as a mahout in Gorumara National Park.
- Ratna’s age
- Ratna Roy was 45.
- First location
- The first strike occurred in Gorumara National Park.
- Second location
- The second strike occurred in a field at Golap Munshi More in Gadong 1 panchayat.
- Official response
- Police and forest personnel responded, and the forest department said it would support Oraon’s family.