Balasore: A sudden lightning strike claimed the lives of three workers, including two women, at a canal construction site near Raipala in Nilagiri block of Balasore district on Saturday. Two other workers sustained minor injuries in the incident.
The deceased have been identified as Mami Singh of Ashoknala village, Alumani Singh of Badheipala village, and Ajit Kumar Hazida of Mathani, who was operating earthmoving machinery at the site.
According to reports, rain began abruptly in the afternoon, prompting more than 10 workers to seek shelter in a nearby camp. Moments later, a bolt of lightning struck the area, causing three workers to collapse and injuring two others.
Co-workers immediately rushed the victims to the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Berhampur, where doctors declared the three deceased. The injured are reported to be out of danger.
Following the incident, Berhampur police sent the bodies to Nilagiri Sub-Divisional Hospital for post-mortem examinations. Authorities are expected to initiate compensation procedures for the families of the deceased under relevant disaster relief norms.
