Eleven killed in Indian thunderstorm

Eleven people have been killed by lightning and falling trees during a severe thunderstorm near Calcutta.

Four districts in eastern India were affected by the winds reaching up to 80 kilometres per hour.

A woman and two children were struck by lightning inside their house in Gobalpur, while three children were hit as they ran through a field for shelter.

In Jalpaiguri, three tea plantation workers were killed when uprooted trees fell on them, and two others were crushed by falling trees near Darjeeling, local police say.

The 30 minute storm was brought on by a sudden low pressure area.