Lawyer killed, another injured as ghat structure collapses after lightning strike in Gorakhpur

Gorakhpur (UP), Sep 6 (PTI) A 45-year-old lawyer was killed and another injured after a dome-shaped structure at Guru Gorakshnath Ghat on the banks of the Rapti river collapsed following a lightning strike on Sunday, officials said.

The incident occurred amid a sudden change in weather when lightning reportedly struck the cremation ghat premises, causing the slab of a shelter for people attending last rites to cave in, they said.

Two advocates sitting beneath the structure were trapped under the debris. Local residents and others present at the ghat launched a rescue operation and pulled them out. Both were taken to the district hospital, officials said.

The deceased was identified as Alok Asthana, 45, a resident of Rapti Nagar. He succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to BRD Medical College, while the other injured advocate, Sanjay Singh of Shakti Nagar Colony, was referred to the medical college for specialised treatment, they said.

According to officials, both lawyers had come to attend the funeral of the mother of fellow advocate Vinod Tiwari. They were sitting under the shelter during the cremation when the lightning strike reportedly triggered the collapse.

Police and administrative officials reached the spot and supervised the rescue operation. Additional police personnel were deployed at the district hospital after news of Asthana’s death spread and fellow advocates gathered there.

District Magistrate Deepak Meena said preliminary findings indicated that lightning had struck the structure, leading to the collapse of the slab. He ordered a technical inspection of the site and directed officials to investigate the condition of the structure.

The administration has also ordered an inquiry into complaints regarding a delay in ambulance services. Officials have been asked to examine the timeline from the emergency call to the ambulance’s arrival and take action if any negligence is found.

Guru Gorakshnath Ghat, developed at a cost of Rs 27.85 crore, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on February 16, 2021.

Following the incident, authorities decided to inspect other dome-shaped structures within the ghat complex to assess their safety and structural stability.

Officials urged people to avoid open areas and potentially unsafe structures during thunderstorms and lightning activity. Investigations into the cause of the collapse, structural safety of the ghat facilities and ambulance response time are underway, officials said.