PATNA: More than 86 people were killed by lightening in Indian States of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkand.

According to reports, nearly sixty people were killed after being struck by lightening in Bihar. Sixteen were killed in Madhya Pradesh and ten in Jharkand.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar chaired a meeting today of emergency response officials, as the state struggles to cope with heavy rain.

Lightning strikes are relatively common in India during the June-October monsoon, which hit the southern coast earlier this month, but this week's toll is particularly high.

In Patna and Rohtas,16 people were injured by the lightning.

The rains that started earlier this week were the first of this monsoon season.

Authorities in the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh said 20 people were killed over two days.

More than 2,500 people were killed by lightning in India in 2014 according to the National Crime Records Bureau, the most recent figures available.