26 Women Drown After Being Spooked By Lightning

MUMBAI, India — Two boats capsized in western India when the passengers panicked after seeing a bolt of lightning, police said Sunday. Twenty-six women drowned.

Rescuers saved four passengers and two crew from the Wainganga River after the accident late Saturday night, said police Superintendent Suresh Sagar. Eight other women are still missing.

After seeing a massive bolt of lightning, the women _ poor farm laborers on their way home from work _ panicked and the boats capsized in the ensuing chaos.

The boats overturned in the Bhandara district of Maharashtra state, about 575 miles (925 kilometers) northeast of the state capital of Mumbai.

It's not clear why all of the passengers were women. But in many parts of India, women make up most of the farm workers.

Boat accidents are common in India, where many vessels are unsafe and overloaded.

(This version CORRECTS SUBS lede to correct that police spoke to AP Sunday, accident was Saturday night.)

Comments

[GravitonX]

There is something suspicious about this story. However, I doubt there are good homicide detectives in the area.

[Michelle Wortman]

all these wemon in one boat and knowone can swim.something just isn't right about this but those 2 guys A.K.A the crew lived point to ponder!!!!

[AmbientDiscord]

i always run away from lightning bolts too... /boggle

[AndyWright68]

"Andy, watch these videos. We need police reform MUST SEE VIDEOS!
http://www.youtube.com/user/CopsOutofControl - LiberalHick"

LiberalHick thanks for this link. You're right everyone should check out this channel

[VinceTeeter]

And I'll bet you that none of those women had ever been taught that lightening is not an act of god.

[MJinCanada]

Don't be silly.

A lot of people have an irrational fear of thunder and lightening. I know two intelligent and otherwise sensible women who practically hide under the bed during every thunderstorm.

I also know an intelligent and otherwise sensible man who has to leave the room if there's a moth flying around the light.

[digvideo]

Cattle are usually "spooked", but they don't tip over the boat.

[discourse jockey]

Women.

[hartkid]

They're in a better place now. You can't argue with that.

[discourse jockey]

That's so heartless, but I lol'ed.

[SlimPickins79]

a few years ago there was mass panic in india after people would scream from their roof tops about a batman monster...people jumped off their roofs to get away from it. went on for weeks...

[SlimPickins79]

Correction...it was a monkey man. Common mistake...
http://www.strangemag.com/monkeyman.html

[futate01]

Well with 1.3 billion people I hope they have a lot more panics.

[Okieborn]

A Very sad story !!

[captainindustry]

If the boats were extremely crowded, it wouldn't take but two or three passengers to panic. If they jumped to the other side, away from the strike, they could have shifted the boat to an extent where water came over the gunnels.

Once water started pouring in, and it's dark, and you're tired, I could see where chaos would ensue.

Bless their hearts.

[BigPictureReg]

The comment screeners must have the day off.

[captainindustry]

I wish I understood their screening methodologies. Especially since I can't spell algorythms...

[Querent]

Their methodology is simple. If they don't like the point you are making, they block it. If they do, doesn't matter how disgustingly you say it, it's ok.

[peacechants]

Tragedies involving public transportation infrastructure are all too frequent in India. One must wonder where the government's priorities lie. As they continually fund development of their nuclear arsenal, the deterioration of transport systems increasingly threatens public safety.

[Tenjikuronin]

First of all, the Indian Government has numerous responsibilities, including national defense. Money for the nuclear arsenal comes out of the annual defense budget, not out of infastructure development. Besides, its not the government's fault that these women decided to go on a boat during a violent storm without knowing how to swim...

[SlimPickins79]

your right. they also need to invest money into a lightning awareness campaign.

[Tenjikuronin]

I'd say 'Boating Awareness Program' is a better option.

[Rogman66]

Oh man, I thought this was going to be an article from The Onion or something like that. Can't believe that actually happened.

[DrDemon]

These "poor farm laborers" need to make themselves life jackets for their protection­...especia­lly if they commute to and from work by boat. Just a suggestion!

[butterfliesRfree]

oh, how brilliant. and would that be before or after they file a formal complaint with OSHA?

[SlinkyTWF]

Sounds like an argument for government safety regulation of the riverine transportation industry.

[DrDemon]

-- either before or after...they just need to get it done asap!

Oh and thanks for the "brilliant" comment. thought it was as well. Thanks again! :-)

[fleaba]

The said PFDs would probably cost more than their yearly salary.

[drjasonmd]

Aint free trade wonderful?