Agartala:
At least three persons including a 76-year-old man was killed and 500 houses collapsed when rain and storms swept different parts of Tripura, official sources said today.
A 76-year-old farmer died in Dharmanagar town area and a 30-year-old man died in Panisagar in northern Tripura district when lightning struck them yesterday, police said.
A nine-year-old boy died of electrocution when he came in contact with a live wire at Sonamura in Sipahijala district, police said.
The pre-monsoon rain accompanied by hailstorm swept different parts of the state collapsing at least 500 houses, and uprooting trees and electric posts.
Security forces and civil defense volunteers were engaged in distribution of relief and immediate relief was given to the next of kins of the deceased, official sources said.
At least 12 persons have died within this month due to lightning and electrocution.