Gorakhpur: A lawyer was killed and another seriously injured after a lightning strike caused the partial collapse of a dome-shaped shelter at Guru Gorakshnath Ghat on the banks of the Rapti River on Sunday, triggering panic among mourners attending a funeral.The deceased, Alok Asthana (45), a resident of Rapti Nagar, succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to BRD Medical College. Another advocate, Sanjay Singh, 46, of Shakti Nagar Colony, was seriously injured and is undergoing treatment at the medical college.According to officials, the two lawyers had gone to attend the funeral of the mother of advocate Vinod Tiwari. As heavy rain lashed the area, several mourners took shelter beneath a dome structure at the cremation ghat.A lightning strike reportedly hit the structure, causing a portion of its roof to collapse and trapping people underneath.DM Deepak Meena visited BRD Medical College and directed its principal to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured advocate under the continuous supervision of senior doctors. He said immediate financial assistance of ₹4 lakh had been released from the disaster relief fund, while a proposal seeking additional assistance had been sent to the state government.Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also took cognisance of the incident and directed district officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured. He further instructed that financial assistance be provided from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, if required. The family of the deceased will receive compensation of ₹4 lakh.The district administration has ordered a technical inspection of the damaged structure and launched an inquiry into complaints of a delay in ambulance services. Officials will examine the emergency response time and fix responsibility if negligence is found.
