By Netra Shahi, Jumla, Aug. 25: Over five hundred sheep have been killed due to lightning in Jumla.

Govinda Mahat, chief of Jumla District Veterinary and Livestock Hospital, informed that over five hundred sheep died when lightning struck them at Dhan Kharka Community forest in Patarasi Rural Municipality-4 of the district.

According to Tek Bahadur Budha, chief administrative officer of the rural municipality, a team led by Hari Kami, technician of the rural municipality's livestock and veterinary section, had headed to the incident site.

He said he was also informed of the number of dead sheep on phone although the team was yet to provide detailed information about the loss and that the veterinary office would write to the provincial and federal government for compensation once the detail of the loss was received.

Lal Bahadur Sarki, member of district coordination committee, viewed that it was necessary for the concerned agencies to take step for providing compensation to the victims as it was a huge loss for a farmer when a large number of sheep die at once due to some kind of disaster.

Some 250 sheep were killed due to lightning at Tila Rural Municipality -6 in the district last year.