Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government on Wednesday said that 1,472 people were killed in lightning strikes in the last five years.
Responding to Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marndi said that 145 people in the state were injured during the period due to the lightning which was declared as a natural disaster by the State government on June 6, 2015.
As per the terms and conditions of the Disaster Relief fund, kin of the lightning victim are provided with financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh, the minister said.
Similarly, financial assistance is also provided to the people who lost eyes or other organs in lightning. People having 40% to 60% disabilities get Rs 74,000 and Rs 2.5 lakh for those with more than 60% disabilities.
The government also provides Rs 16,000 to someone who undergoes treatment at a hospital for over a week after being struck by lightning.
Similarly, people being treated at any hospital for less than seven days are entitled to get Rs 5,400, the minister said.
