Lightning strike kills 12 in Bihar, AP

Twelve people were killed in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh in incidents related to lightning-strike on Sunday even as blistering heat continued in many states.

However, in some good news, MeT department announced that the Southwest Monsoon has covered the Nicobar Islands and the entire south Andaman Sea, three days ahead of its normal onset date.

But, IMD Director General K G Ramesh said it is too early to forecast whether the monsoon would hit the Kerala coast ahead of schedule. The normal onset date over Kerala, termed as the official arrival of the seasonal rainfall in India, is June 1.

Blistering heatwave conditions continued across Haryana and Punjab.

Lightning strike at a village in Anantapuramu district of Andhra Pradesh killed five persons and injuring two others.

According to state Information and Public Relations Minister Kalva Srinivasulu, nine villagers took shelter in a small shed following rain on Sunday evening. Suddenly, lightning struck the shed killing five persons and injuring two others, the minister said.

In Bihar, which received light to moderate rains at a few places, seven persons, including three children, were killed and two others injured in incidents related to lightning- strike.