Thane, June 25: The Bhayander district administration expedited the process of providing disbursement to the kin of a lightning strike victim. Rs 4 lakh was disbursed by the authorities to the family members of a local fisherman in Uttan village who died due to a lightning strike on June 9.

The disbursement, in record two-week time, was carried out due to the swift action taken by tehsildar Adhik Patil, along with Thane MP Rajan Vichare and former corporator Bernard D’Mello.

The deceased fisherman, identified as 60-year Stanny Admani, had ventured at the seashore on the unfateful morning of June 9 to check his accessories. A lightning struck the coast at the time, killing Admani and injuring nine others who were answering nature's call at the time.

In October last year, the government had amended the rules to provide Rs 4 lakh compensation to the victims of lightning strikes. According to the India Meteorological Department, at least 40 deaths were reported in Maharashtra due to lightning strikes in 2016. Data for 2017 is yet to be released.

While an ex-gratia compensation was provided in some erstwhile cases of lightning strikes, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis decided to pass an executive order making compensation of Rs 4 lakh mandatory to the victims.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 25, 2018 08:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).