Despite being the dominant species on Earth, humans remain at the mercy of natures unpredictable forces. Floods, cyclones, and thunderstorms can wreak havoc on lives, property, and the environment, and often, we have little control over these natural events. The residents of Sumeri village in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh experienced this harsh reality firsthand when a lightning strike incinerated a 20-foot-tall tree in minutes.

In Sumeri village on Sagar Bhopal Road, the weather shifted dramatically after noon as dark clouds gathered, leading to a sudden downpour. As the rain intensified and strong winds picked up, villagers took shelter indoors. Out of nowhere, a flash of lightning was followed by a thunderclap that startled everyone. After about 5-7 minutes, when villagers cautiously ventured outside with umbrellas, they discovered that a palm tree near Hanuman Singhs house was ablaze. Despite the rain, flames were consuming the tree, which was soon reduced to ashes.

Rajkumar Singh Lambardar described the villages panic following the deafening noise. The community was enveloped in fear as they tried to understand what had happened. It took considerable bravery for some villagers to investigate the source of the sound. Fortunately, no injuries or property damage occurred. The lightning struck dangerously close to Hanuman Singhs home, where his family was just feet away but remained unharmed. Their livestock was safely secured in a nearby cowshed, and the fire did not affect neighboring homes.