Lucknow, April 11 -- The Uttar Pradesh government declared financial assistance for families of those who lost their lives in thunderstorms and lightning incidents across the state. The instructions were given to immediately distribute the permissible relief amount of Rs 4 lakh to the families of the deceased persons.

A total of 22 people died, 45 animals were killed, and 15 houses were damaged on Thursday, according to the Relief Commissioner Headquarters.

The lightning caused three deaths each in Fatehpur and Azamgarh districts, two each in Firozabad, Kanpur Dehat and Sitapur and one death each in Ghazipur, Gonda, Amethi, Sant Kabir Nagar and Siddharth Nagar.

The storm has caused one loss of life each in Ballia, Kannauj, Barabanki, J...