Prayagraj/Gorakhpur/Varanasi, June 16 -- At least 17 people were killed while six were injured in lightning strikes in two Prayagraj villages, Gorakhpur and Basti divisions, and Jaunpur district in separate incidents from Saturday night to Sunday morning, authorities said. Five people, including a couple and their two children, died after being struck by lightning in two incidents in Prayagraj district late on Saturday night. The couple and their two children died in Sonbarsa village under Bara police station's jurisdiction, they added. In another incident, which occurred in Kalyanpur village under Shankergarh police station area of Prayagraj, a 29-year-old man died on the spot while his wife suffered severe burns. As per reports, Virendra Banvasi, 35, and his wife Parvati, 32, were sleeping in their hut with two daughters Radha, 3, and Karishma, 2, when lightning struck. All four died on the spot as the hut was reduced to ashes. The deceased couple's two elder daughters -- Son Kumari, 10, and Anchal, 8, -- were staying with their grandparents on the fateful night, officials said. Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar (29), a resident of Kalyanpur village under Shankergarh police station limits, died while his wife Kusum, 27, suffered serious burns in a lightning strike. Kusum was admitted to a private hospital in Shankargarh, where her condition was stable, officials said. Bara SDM Sandeep Tiwari and tehsildar Ganesh Kumar, accompanied by naib tehsildar and other revenue department officers, visited Kalyanpur and Sonbarsa villages and assured all possible help to the families of the deceased. Tiwari said the families of the deceased will be given Rs 3 lakh each from the Natural Disaster Fund. Besides, the family of the deceased in Sonbarsa village will also be provided a house, he said. The deceased couple's two daughters will be provided scholarships under the sponsorship scheme by the women and child development department, he added. Meanwhile, four people in Bansi town of Siddharthnagar district, two in Bhar Pahi village near Sahjanwa in Gorakhpur, and a woman in Hata town of Kushinagar were fatally struck by lightning. Those injured, including two from Sahjanwa (Gorakhpur) and three from different places in Siddharthnagar and Kushinagar, are currently undergoing treatment at nearby hospitals, officials said. The incident unfolded after the weather changed on Sunday morning, leading to gusty winds and heavy rain. The lightning struck a group of children -- Khushbu, 12, Jyoti, 11, and their cousin Ajay, 10, -- while collecting mangoes at an orchard in Sahjanwa. Khushbu died on the spot, while Jyoti and Ajay were rushed to BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur for treatment. Additionally, Tara Devi (30), a resident of Hata in Kushinagar, sustained serious burns after being struck by lightning while returning from the field. The lightning strikes also devastated four families in Siddharthnagar, killing four people, including cloth trader Shah Jamal, 27, and Kallu alias Rizwan, 33, who were on their way to their respective villages. Sateesh Yadav, 27, from Bajar Deeh was selling vegetables when struck by lightning. Irshad Ahmad, 25, who was preparing for his wedding and was travelling on a motorcycle with his friend Mahboob, was also among those killed. Irshad died while Mahboob sustained serious burns, officials said. Five people, including two minor brothers, were fatally struck by lightning in three separate incidents in Kashidaspur, Kahjura and Kanehra areas of Jaunpur district on Sunday. Storm wreaked havoc in Chandwak, uprooting dozens of trees and electricity poles and plunging the area into darkness. The deceased included two brothers (Ansh, 12, and Ashu, 10), and their neighbour Ayush, 12, -- all of Kashidaspur. They had gone to collect mangoes in an orchard when lightning struck. They were rushed to the Dobhi community health centre where doctors declared them brought dead. Apa, a 14-year-old girl, died on the spot due to lightning in Khajuran village of Badalpur Kotwali area. She was a resident of Laua village of Sultanpur and had visited her maternal home. Brijesh, 25, of Karnehua village was going to tie his cow under a canopy when he was fatally struck by lightning. SDM Rajesh Chaurasia said assistance would be provided to the kin of the deceased from the disaster fund....