In western India, lightning and hailstorms claim 24 lives

According to authorities, lightning, heavy rain, and hailstorms have killed at least 24 people in India. In the western state of Gujarat, the weather killed cattle and destroyed dwellings. Meteorologists said that storms are uncommon in Gujarat in the winter, therefore many people were unprepared for the intense precipitation. In India, lightning strikes and flash floods claim hundreds of lives every year. Scientists are cautioning that an increase in extreme weather occurrences is being fueled by rising global temperatures. As the temperature of the land and sea surfaces rises, the air above becomes warmer and has more energy to support thunderstorms where lightning strikes. On Monday, further rain and hailstorms were predicted for western India. Officials claimed in a statement late on Sunday that the lightning strikes were responsible for at least 18 of the 24 fatalities.