Jalna, March 30 Two young men, on their way to a temple, lost their lives after being struck by lightning near a village amid unseasonal rains in several parts of the Jalna district in central Maharashtra on Monday, police said.
Another person who was with them was injured in the lightning strike, they said.
The incident took place near Mahakala village under the Ambad tehsil, and the deceased were identified by police as Govind Prahlad Lahane (21) and Aditya Dagdu Bedre (20).
The Ambad police said the two men were on their way to Apegaon village to offer prayers at the revered Vigneshwar Mahadev temple, when sudden rains accompanied by thunder and lightning forced them to take shelter under a tree.
However, a large bolt of lightning struck the tree, killing both men instantly, they said.
Another young man who was with them sustained serious injuries and was currently undergoing treatment in a hospital in Ambad.
Meanwhile, several parts of the Jalna district experienced unseasonal rainfall on Monday. Areas in the Bhokardan, Jalna, Ambad, and Jafrabad tehsils experienced showers. Stormy weather was also observed in the Ramnagar and Ner areas of the Jalna tehsil.
The meteorological department has issued an 'orange' alert for the Jalna district for March 31, warning of adverse weather conditions. Farmers have been advised to take necessary precautions to protect harvested crops.