Kathmandu— Sixteen inmates were injured by a lightning strike at the Grafton Correctional Institution in Ohio on Tuesday while returning from an evening meal, authorities said. The incident occurred as deadly storms brought tornadoes, flash flooding, and powerful winds to the Midwestern United States, resulting in at least three deaths across multiple states. One inmate was airlifted to a hospital and remained seriously injured Wednesday, according to Governor Mike DeWine.

Storm System Impacts Midwest

Severe thunderstorms swept across the US Midwest on Tuesday, bringing with them tornadoes, flash flooding, strong winds, and widespread power outages. Preliminary data from the Storm Prediction Center suggests the system may qualify as a derecho – a long-lived windstorm associated with fast-moving thunderstorms. Video released by the Ohio Department of Transportation showed powerful winds flipping a car on a highway in Columbus.

Inmate Injuries and Response

All sixteen inmates injured by the lightning strike were initially transported to outside hospitals for treatment. As of Wednesday, four remained hospitalized, including one with serious injuries, Governor DeWine reported. No staff members or other fatalities occurred at the Grafton Correctional Institution during the incident.

Fatalities Reported Across Region

Beyond the prison incident, the storms resulted in at least three deaths across the Midwest. In Ohio, a resident died during a medical emergency when flash flooding hindered first responders' access. A four-year-old boy was killed in Indiana after a tree fell on his home Tuesday, and authorities are investigating a house explosion in Portage, Indiana, as potentially weather-related.

Authorities continue to assess the full extent of damage caused by the storms across the Midwest, with ongoing recovery efforts underway for those impacted.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.