Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Lightning strikes claimed six lives in Marathwada within a week amid unseasonal rainfallin parts of the region.Rahul Jadhav (22) from Latur's Mauje Harangul was struck by lightning while he was working in a farm on Sunday evening.

He was rushed to the govt medical college in Latur where doctors declared him brought dead.

The same day, Digambar Gaikwad (59) from Mauje Saygao village in Beed's Ambajogai taluka died similarly, thedisaster managementauthorities said. On May 6, Sunil Chirakhe (25) died when lightning struck his farm in Sisarkheda village in Sillod taluka of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. A day before, Nandu Mhaske (22), a farmer from Kodapur village in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district died due to lightning too.

On the same day, Beed district reported one death each from Ambajogai and Wadwani talukas. The region also reported loss of livestock in some districts but consolidated data was not available with the authorities.

While the pre-monsoon period is considered as the most vulnerable for lightning strikes, disaster management department authorities have appealed to the people, especially rural population, to take necessary precautions. "People should avoid taking shelter under isolated trees during thunderstorms, as many lightning-related incidents involve trees," said Saqib Osmani, Disaster Management Officer for Latur, warning of predicted thunderstorms and rainfall.Sitting down on the ground in a ball-like position with the head kept between knees and hands over the ear and getting off from hilly areas are some of the tips authorities have shared for people to remain safe during lightning.The Beed and nearby areas reported unseasonal rainfall on Monday afternoon too. Earlier, Kannad and nearby talukas from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district received major spells of rain. The Met department has forecast partly cloudy sky with possibility of moderate rainfall and thunderstorm in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and some other parts of Marathwada for the next 48 hours.