Bhubaneswar: At least 1,075 people in Odisha lost their lives to lightning strikes in the last three years, Revenue and Disaster Suresh Pujari told the Assembly on Thursday.
Mayurbhanj district witnessed the highest number of 81 deaths in Odisha due to lightning strikes followed by Balasore district (68) and Ganjam district (60) between 2022 and 2024.
The data presented by the minister in the House revealed that the lightning strikes have claimed 306 lives in 2022-23 and 272 in 2023-24.
So far, 201 deaths have been confirmed in this fiscal 2024-25. Of them, ex-gratia payments have been made to 77 victims’ families and 124 cases are under consideration.
Replying to a query raised by BJD MLA, the minister informed the House that the state government has declared lightning as a specific disaster since April 1, 2015, and is providing Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia assistance to kin of deceased persons as per the norm. The ex-gratia amount, which is being provided to victims’ families, is equivalent to the amount of SDRF/NDRF norm of the Centre.
The state government has no plan to increase the amount by amending the existing Odisha Relief Code, the Pujari said.
